New Orleans Saints History
Here is a brief look at the New Orleans Saints history. The Saints were admitted into the NFL at a league meeting held on November 1, 1966. That day also happened to be the Roman Catholic Holiday All Saints Day, New Orleans ownership felt it was only natural to call them the Saints for the day they were born on.
Franchise Granted: November 1, 1966
First Season: 1967
Logo: A gold Fleur-du-lis a French symbol, used to repsent the large numbers of French Colonist that settled in Louisiana.
Mascot: Gumbo the dog
Team colors: Gold and black
Stadium: Louisiana Superdome
Owner: Tom Benson
Executive Vice President/General Manager: Mickey Loomis
Head Coach: Sean Payton
NFC Western Division Championships: 1991, 2000
NFC Southern Division Championship: 2006
All-Time Record: (At Start of 2007 Season) 249-364-5
Retired Uniform Numbers: #31 Jim Taylor, #81 Doug Atkins
First Draft Choice: Les Kelley, FB, Alabama, 1967.
First Regular-Season Game: A 27-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, 9/17/67.
First Regular-Season Touchdown: A 94-yard kickoff return by John Gilliam, on the opening play of the Saints' first game, 9/17/67.
First Regular-Season Win: A 31-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, 11/5/67.
First Winning Season: 1987 (12-3).
First Playoff Appearance: A 44-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the 1987 NFC Wild Card Playoff game.
First Pro Bowl Selection: S Dave Whitsell, 1967.
First to Rush For 100 Yards in a Game: Don McCall, 127 yards vs. the Washington Redskins, 9/22/68.
First 1,000-Yard Rusher: Chuck Muncie, 1,198 yards (1979).
First to Pass For 300 Yards in a Game: Billy Kilmer, 345 yards vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, 11/2/69.
Most Yards Rushing, Career: Deuce McCallister, 5,586 yards (2001-06)
Most Yards Passing, Career: Archie Manning, 21,734 yards (1971-1982).
Most Receptions, Career: Eric Martin, 532 receptions (1985-1993).
All-Time Leading Scorer: Morten Andersen, 1,318 points (1982-1994).
Longest Field Goal: Tom Dempsey's 63-yard field goal vs. the Detroit Lions on 11/8/70, is still tied for an NFL record.
It's a Fact: The Superdome roof covers 9.7 acres.