1980 New Orleans Saints season facts for kids

The 1980 New Orleans Saints season was their 14th year playing in the National Football League (NFL). This season was quite challenging for the team.

A Challenging Season for the Saints

The 1980 New Orleans Saints team made history, but not in a way they wanted. They were the first NFL team ever to finish a season with only 1 win and 15 losses. This means they played 16 games and only won one of them.

The "Aints" Nickname

Because the team started with no wins and 12 losses, fans began calling them the "Aints." This was a playful nickname, changing "Saints" to "Aints" to show how tough the season was. Their only win came late in the season, in Week 15, against the New York Jets. The Saints were behind 7-13 in that game. But their quarterback, Archie Manning, threw two amazing touchdown passes. One went to Tony Galbreath, putting them ahead 14-13. They ended up winning the game 21-20.

A Memorable Comeback Loss

One of the most talked-about games of the season was in Week 14. The Saints were playing against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco. The Saints were playing incredibly well at first, leading the game by a huge score of 35-7! However, the 49ers made an incredible comeback. They scored many points and ended up beating the Saints 38-35 in overtime. This comeback is still remembered as one of the best in NFL history.

Other Teams with Similar Records

After the 1980 Saints, eight other NFL teams have also finished a season with 1 win and 15 losses. These teams include the 1989 Cowboys and the 2007 Dolphins. In 2008, the Detroit Lions had an even tougher season, losing all 16 of their games.

Images for kids

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  Archie Manning attempting a pass for the Saints during a game against the Los Angeles Rams in 1980.