50 Fun Facts About New Orleans Saints

On which date in 1966 was New Orleans awarded its NFL franchise, chosen for its symbolism?

Owner-to-be David Dixon asked Pete Rozelle to delay the announcement a week to land on the holiday.

The team's name honours which classic New Orleans jazz standard?

The franchise began play in 1967 as an expansion team.

What happened on the very first play of the Saints' first game in 1967?

They still lost 27-13 to the Rams at Tulane Stadium in front of 80,000.

How long was Tom Dempsey's NFL-record field goal for the Saints in 1970?

It beat the Lions 19-17 in the final seconds and broke the old record by seven yards.

Where did the Saints play home games before the Superdome opened?

They spent eight seasons there before moving into the Dome in 1975.

How many seasons did the Saints go before their first winning record?

The breakthrough came in 1987 under Jim Mora, at 12-3 in a strike-shortened year.

What did sportscaster Buddy Diliberto suggest fans wear during the 0-14 start of 1980?

Many bags read 'Aints' instead of 'Saints'.

Which quarterback, father of Peyton and Eli, was drafted second overall by the Saints in 1971?

He spent 12 seasons in New Orleans and made two Pro Bowls despite the losing.

Which owner bought the Saints in 1985 and hired Jim Mora?

A car dealer and banker, he owned the team until his death in 2018.

What was the nickname of the Saints' star linebacking corps of the Mora era?

Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Vaughan Johnson and Pat Swilling; two of them are now in the Hall of Fame.

How many playoff games did the Saints win under Jim Mora?

They made the playoffs four times but never won; his 93 wins were still a franchise record until 2016.

What did Mike Ditka give Washington to move up and take Ricky Williams?

Ditka's tenure lasted three losing seasons.

In which season did the Saints finally win their first playoff game?

It was the franchise's 34th season.

Why did the Saints play no regular-season home games in New Orleans in 2005?

The home opener was moved to Giants Stadium and the team went 3-13.

Whom did the Saints beat 23-3 in the emotional 2006 return to the Superdome?

Green Day and U2 played beforehand and the game won an ESPY for Best Moment in Sports.

Whose blocked punt on the opening series is the enduring image of the 2006 Superdome return?

A statue of the play, 'Rebirth', now stands outside the stadium.

In which year did the Saints hire Sean Payton and sign Drew Brees?

Brees signed a six-year, $60 million deal after a shoulder injury scared off other teams.

From which team did the Saints sign Drew Brees?

He had left in free agency after a potentially career-ending shoulder injury.

Where did Drew Brees play college football?

He set Big Ten records for completions, attempts and yards but lasted until the second round of the 2001 draft.

What was the Saints' record start in 2009, the best in franchise history?

It surpassed the 1985 Bears' 12-0 as the best NFC start since the merger.

Whom did the Saints beat in Super Bowl XLIV?

The 31-17 upset in Miami was the franchise's first championship.

What did Sean Payton call to open the second half of Super Bowl XLIV?

Thomas Morstead's kick was recovered and the Saints scored 18 unanswered points.

Which Saints cornerback sealed Super Bowl XLIV with a 74-yard interception return?

He had also picked off the Vikings' veteran quarterback late in the NFC Championship Game.

Which band played the Super Bowl XLIV halftime show?

Carrie Underwood sang the anthem.

The Saints share which championship-game distinction with the New York Jets?

Both franchises are 1-0 in the big game.

How long was Sean Payton suspended for the bounty scandal?

He was the first head coach ever suspended by the league; the GM got half a season.

Which Saints defensive coordinator ran the bounty program?

His indefinite suspension was overturned the following year.

Which Vikings quarterback did opponents claim the Saints deliberately targeted in the 2009 NFC Championship?

The claims helped trigger the bounty investigation.

Whose consecutive-games touchdown pass record did Drew Brees break in 2012?

Brees's streak ended at 54 games later that season.

How many TD passes did Drew Brees throw against the Giants in 2015, tying the NFL record?

He also led the league with 5,208 passing yards in a losing season.

How many times did Drew Brees lead the NFL in passing yards, an NFL record?

He is second all-time in career passing yards, touchdowns and completions.

Which play ended the Saints' 2017 season in the divisional round?

Marcus Williams missed the tackle and Stefon Diggs scored as time expired.

Which team beat the Saints in overtime in the 2018 NFC Championship Game after a controversial no-call?

The uncalled pass interference on Tommylee Lewis led the NFL to make such calls reviewable for a season.

Who became the Saints' owner after the longtime owner died in 2018?

She also inherited the NBA's Pelicans.

How many rushing touchdowns did Alvin Kamara score against Minnesota on Christmas Day 2020?

He became only the second player ever with six rushing scores and 36 points in a game.

Which coach did the Saints hire in 2025, two days after he won a Super Bowl as an offensive coordinator?

He had called plays for the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.

Through Super Bowl LIX in 2025, how many Super Bowls had the Superdome hosted?

Super Bowl LIX in February 2025 was the eighth, more than any other stadium at the time.

What is the Saints' logo?

It is a symbol of New Orleans and of France's Bourbon royal family.

Who was the first player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame primarily for his career as a Saint?

He went in in 2010; Roaf, Andersen, Mills and Brees followed.

Which Saints kicker holds the franchise scoring record with 1,318 points?

He was only the second pure kicker inducted into the Hall of Fame.

How many wins did Jim Mora record as Saints coach, a franchise record until 2016?

That was three more than the Saints had won in their entire history before he arrived.

How many yards short of Dan Marino's single-season passing record did Brees finish in 2008?

He broke it three years later, in 2011.

Which famous trumpeter was a part-owner of the original Saints franchise?

Houston oilman John W. Mecom Jr. was the first majority stockholder; the black-and-gold colours nodded to the oil business.

Why did the NFL reject original owner John Mecom's preferred 'Mecom blue' colour scheme?

Mecom settled on black as a nod to 'black gold', the oil industry that had made his fortune.

Which Louisiana congressman tied the AFL-NFL merger to an antitrust bill, helping win the team?

Boggs was House Majority Whip; commissioner Pete Rozelle then flew to New Orleans to announce the team on November 1, 1966.

After Katrina, the Saints split 2005 'home' games between the Alamodome and which venue?

The scheduled home opener against the Giants was also moved to Giants Stadium in New Jersey.

Which Saint holds the franchise records for catches, receiving yards and receiving TDs?

Colston caught 711 passes for 9,759 yards and 72 touchdowns between 2006 and 2015, all from Drew Brees' era.

Which tackle became the second Hall of Famer to earn his credentials mostly as a Saint?

Roaf was on the NFL's 1990s All-Decade team; Morten Andersen followed in 2017 as only the second kicker ever inducted.

Which 50,000-watt clear-channel station is the Saints' flagship radio home?

It is one of the oldest radio stations in New Orleans and one of the most powerful in the nation.

In what year did the Saints create a Ring of Honor displayed on the Superdome's Terrace Level?

It was announced on October 9, 2013 to honour players, administrators and others who made significant contributions to the franchise.