This New Orleans Saints trivia quiz has 50 free questions with answers and covers the whole story of the black and gold: the All Saints' Day franchise announcement in 1966, the opening-kickoff touchdown in the first game, Tom Dempsey's record field goal, the paper-bag 'Aints, Archie Manning, Jim Mora and the Dome Patrol, Mike Ditka's Ricky Williams gamble, the first playoff win in 2000, the Katrina season and the emotional 2006 return, Sean Payton and Drew Brees, the 2009 championship run and the onside kick that turned Super Bowl XLIV, Bountygate, the Minneapolis Miracle and the Rams no-call, and the Benson, Allen and Kellen Moore years since. Early questions suit any Who Dat who has been to the Dome; later ones reward fans who know who kicked the onside kick, which coach was suspended for a full season, and how many Super Bowls the Superdome has hosted. Every answer was checked against encyclopaedia entries before publishing.
30 of 50 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01On which date in 1966 was New Orleans awarded its NFL franchise, chosen for its symbolism?
All Saints' Day, November 1
Owner-to-be David Dixon asked Pete Rozelle to delay the announcement a week to land on the holiday.
Q 02The team's name honours which classic New Orleans jazz standard?
When the Saints Go Marching In
The franchise began play in 1967 as an expansion team.
Q 03What happened on the very first play of the Saints' first game in 1967?
John Gilliam took the opening kickoff 94 yards for a TD
They still lost 27-13 to the Rams at Tulane Stadium in front of 80,000.
Q 04How long was Tom Dempsey's NFL-record field goal for the Saints in 1970?
63 yards
It beat the Lions 19-17 in the final seconds and broke the old record by seven yards.
Q 05Where did the Saints play home games before the Superdome opened?
Tulane Stadium
They spent eight seasons there before moving into the Dome in 1975.
Q 06How many seasons did the Saints go before their first winning record?
20
The breakthrough came in 1987 under Jim Mora, at 12-3 in a strike-shortened year.
Q 07What did sportscaster Buddy Diliberto suggest fans wear during the 0-14 start of 1980?
Paper bags over their heads
Many bags read 'Aints' instead of 'Saints'.
Q 08Which quarterback, father of Peyton and Eli, was drafted second overall by the Saints in 1971?
Archie Manning
He spent 12 seasons in New Orleans and made two Pro Bowls despite the losing.
Q 09Which owner bought the Saints in 1985 and hired Jim Mora?
Tom Benson
A car dealer and banker, he owned the team until his death in 2018.
Q 10What was the nickname of the Saints' star linebacking corps of the Mora era?
The Dome Patrol
Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Vaughan Johnson and Pat Swilling; two of them are now in the Hall of Fame.
Q 11How many playoff games did the Saints win under Jim Mora?
None
They made the playoffs four times but never won; his 93 wins were still a franchise record until 2016.
Q 12What did Mike Ditka give Washington to move up and take Ricky Williams?
Every pick that year plus two picks the next year
Ditka's tenure lasted three losing seasons.
Q 13In which season did the Saints finally win their first playoff game?
2000
It was the franchise's 34th season.
Why did the Saints play no regular-season home games in New Orleans in 2005?
Q 21Whom did the Saints beat in Super Bowl XLIV?
Indianapolis Colts
The 31-17 upset in Miami was the franchise's first championship.
Q 22What did Sean Payton call to open the second half of Super Bowl XLIV?
A surprise onside kick
Thomas Morstead's kick was recovered and the Saints scored 18 unanswered points.
Q 23Which Saints cornerback sealed Super Bowl XLIV with a 74-yard interception return?
Tracy Porter
He had also picked off the Vikings' veteran quarterback late in the NFC Championship Game.
Hurricane Katrina damaged the Superdome
The home opener was moved to Giants Stadium and the team went 3-13.
Q 15Whom did the Saints beat 23-3 in the emotional 2006 return to the Superdome?
Atlanta Falcons
Green Day and U2 played beforehand and the game won an ESPY for Best Moment in Sports.
Q 16Whose blocked punt on the opening series is the enduring image of the 2006 Superdome return?
Steve Gleason
A statue of the play, 'Rebirth', now stands outside the stadium.
Q 17In which year did the Saints hire Sean Payton and sign Drew Brees?
2006
Brees signed a six-year, $60 million deal after a shoulder injury scared off other teams.
Q 18From which team did the Saints sign Drew Brees?
San Diego Chargers
He had left in free agency after a potentially career-ending shoulder injury.
Q 19Where did Drew Brees play college football?
Purdue
He set Big Ten records for completions, attempts and yards but lasted until the second round of the 2001 draft.
Q 20What was the Saints' record start in 2009, the best in franchise history?
13-0
It surpassed the 1985 Bears' 12-0 as the best NFC start since the merger.
Q 24Which band played the Super Bowl XLIV halftime show?
The Who
Carrie Underwood sang the anthem.
Q 25The Saints share which championship-game distinction with the New York Jets?
Winning their only appearance
Both franchises are 1-0 in the big game.
Q 26How long was Sean Payton suspended for the bounty scandal?
The entire 2012 season
He was the first head coach ever suspended by the league; the GM got half a season.
Q 27Which Saints defensive coordinator ran the bounty program?
Gregg Williams
His indefinite suspension was overturned the following year.
Q 28Which Vikings quarterback did opponents claim the Saints deliberately targeted in the 2009 NFC Championship?
Brett Favre
The claims helped trigger the bounty investigation.
Q 29Whose consecutive-games touchdown pass record did Drew Brees break in 2012?
Johnny Unitas
Brees's streak ended at 54 games later that season.
Q 30How many TD passes did Drew Brees throw against the Giants in 2015, tying the NFL record?
Seven
He also led the league with 5,208 passing yards in a losing season.