New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints is a professional American football from Louisiana. It competes in the NFC South Division. The team made its first steps in the Capitol Division of the NFL Eastern Conference in 1967.

Franchise history

Despite the team involved the star coaches, it has a poor playoff history. It always occurred in the middle of the table before the merging. The first success came to the team only in 1987 when they debuted in the playoff. Their opponents on the Wild Card were Minnesota Vikings which declassified the team 44-10. Another attempt happened three years later, but Chicago Bears stopped them again.

The Saints demonstrated the power in the next regular season. However, their record was the lowest among divisional winners, so they reappeared in Wild Card. The NFC West winner lost 27-20 to the wild card participant Atlanta Falcons. The next year it failed to pass the Wild Card round against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The team’s owner Tom Benson expected a lot from hiring the famous tight end from the 1960s, Mike Ditka. Its main argument is that this performer understands the offense and should strengthen the team. The team ended behind playoffs with a record 6-10 in 19997 after Ditka started to head the team. The same situation repeated the next season. Ditka traded some performers from the past draft to the Washington Redskins next season to pick the winner of Heisman Trophy winner running back Ricky Williams. But the team lost 3-13, and Mike Ditka became the weakest link. Jim Haslett replaced him.

The new coach immediately led the Saints to the playoff. They started from Wild Card again, meeting the defending Super Bowl owners St. Louis Rams. The team from Louisiana made a little sensation beating them. The first playoff win is so much a respectable achievement. But Minnesota didn’t allow them to pass further again like in 1987.

Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the team

The day August 29, 2005 was the most dreadful day in the history of Louisiana and the country. A rocket-speed hurricane destroyed multiple buildings in New Orleans, including the Saints’ home arena Superdome. Its renewal took the whole season, so the team had to move the home games to other stadiums or play twice on the opponent’s home arena.

Some media considered the Saints would relocate to San Antonio and stay after their temporary evacuation to this city. Texas Governor Rick Perry announced the state’s support in refurbishing Alamodome Stadium or possible new construction. Despite San Antonio is a part of Dallas Cowboys corporate territory, the team helped the opponents from destroyed state and could support for their relocation.

The perspective to disappear from the football map desperate the Louisiana fans. The fan society feared that nobody would want to create an expansion franchise in a tornado location.

The situation was heated by the owner’s decision to relocate. Benson and San Antonio officials were sure New Orleans would be a memorial without chances to recover from Katrina. CNN reported about Benson’s plans to declare the Superdome unusable. New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin considered Benson’s actions a betrayal against the fans who had supported the Saints for decades.

Some groups offered Benson money for the franchise to run in Louisiana, but the owner rejected all offers. After all scandals and the repairment of the Superdome, the Saints returned home.

Return to Superdome and further history

The Saints relocation controversy affected on the relations with the team officials. Benson fired some managers, including the head coach. Sean Payton took the post to rehabilitate and respect the fans and the team. The players heard the right motivating words and won the divisional with the record to drop the WC stage. The team was revenged for its loss to Philadelphia Eagles in 1992 and competed for the conference championship for the first time. But they lost it to the Bears.

Their next attempt was successful in 2009. The Saints won their single title, winning the division again. Their divisional round opponents were easy Cardinals 45-14. The Vikings resisted a much in the conference championship battle, but the overtime field goal by New Orleans Saints directed them to the Super Bowl against the Baltimore Colts. The team from Louisiana lifted the cup their heads after a 31-17 win.

After that win, the performance of the Saints began to jump—playoff berths combined with middle-range results. The best achievement is the 2019 conference Championship level, but the team failed to qualify for the Super Bowl.

Rivalries

The team has built intense rivalries with the intradivisional opponents. Falcons-Saints rivalry is the oldest regular battle as it moved from the NFC West, where they competed yearly. Their battles moved to the NFC South division after the 2002 divisional realignment.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers had at least one game each season with the Saints. They had only 5 misses prior to 2002 arrival to the same divisions. The reform made the rivalry more intense by doubling the appearances.

The geographical neighbor Carolina Panthers appeared in the NFC West after its creation in 1995. Seven years later, both teams appeared in the NFC South division. Thus, their two-game annual rivalry resumes regularly. It’s the tightest one – the teams often exchange the victory series.

The Vikings and Rams are historical rivals. Their activity has reduced since the 2002 realignment as the interdivisional competitors meet more rarely than the intradivisional rivals. The frequency depends on the team positions in their divisions, the seasonal formula, or the playoffs toss.

Notable players

The team has its Hall of Fame, where the Saints management honors the best and most compelling performers. This tradition started in 1971 and resumed annually. The single ceremony in 2021 was cancelled due to pandemic.

A couple of players and the team’s owner between 1985 and 2018 Tom Benson, bring the Ring of Honor commemorating the best people who contributed a much to the Saints’ success. This list includes the defensive end Will Smith who won the 2009 Super Bowl. Eight players were elected to the Hall of Fame. One of the most honored players is Sam Mills. The linebacker was included in the symbolic team dedicated to the 45th franchise anniversary, the Ring of Honor, and place in the team’s and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Other Pro Football Hall of Fame elections are QB Ken Stabler, the kicker Morten Andersen, running back Jim Taylor (performed as the fullback), Earl Campbell, etc. Their numbers are still in the circuit. The coaches Jim Finks and Hank Stram logically end the list.