New Orleans Saints facts for kids

Quick facts for kids New Orleans Saints
Current season
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Basic info
Established	November 1, 1966; 58 years ago (1966-11-01)
Stadium	Caesars Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana
Headquartered	Ochsner Sports Performance Center Metairie, Louisiana
Colors	Old gold, black, white
Fight song	"When the Saints Go Marching In"
Mascot	Gumbo, Sir Saint
Personnel
Owner(s)	Gayle Benson
President	Dennis Lauscha
General manager	Mickey Loomis
Head coach	Kellen Moore
Nicknames
The Black and Gold The Dome Patrol The Bless You Boys The Who Dats
Team history
New Orleans Saints (1967–present)
Home fields
Tulane Stadium (1967–1974) Caesars Superdome (1975, 2006–present) Temporary stadiums 2005 due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina: Tiger Stadium (four games) Alamodome (three games) Giants Stadium (one game) 2021 due to the effect of Hurricane Ida: TIAA Bank Field (one game)
League / conference affiliations
National Football League (1967–present) Eastern Conference (1967–1969) Capitol Division (1967; 1969) Century Division (1968) National Football Conference (1970–present) NFC West (1970–2001) NFC South (2002–present)
Championships
League championships: 1 Super Bowl championships: 1 2009 (XLIV)
Conference championships: 1 NFC: 2009
Division championships: 9 NFC West: 1991, 2000 NFC South: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Playoff appearances (14)
NFL: 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Owner(s)
John W. Mecom Jr. (1966–1985) Tom Benson (1985–2018) Gayle Benson (2018–present)

The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the team has played its home games at Caesars Superdome. Before that, they used Tulane Stadium for their first eight seasons. The Saints were started by John W. Mecom Jr., David Dixon, and the city of New Orleans on November 1, 1966. They joined the NFL as a new team in 1967.

For many years, the Saints were not very successful. They had 20 seasons in a row without a winning record or making the playoffs. Their first winning season and playoff appearance happened in 1987. They did not win a playoff game until 2000, which was their 34th season. The team became much better in the 2000s and 2010s, often making it to the playoffs. Their biggest achievement was winning Super Bowl XLIV in the 2009 season. They beat the Indianapolis Colts in that game. This was their first and only Super Bowl appearance so far. The Saints are one of only two NFL teams to win the Super Bowl in their only appearance.

Team History and Milestones

How the Saints Began

Local sports leader Dave Dixon and a group from New Orleans wanted an NFL team for a long time. They had even hosted very popular NFL exhibition games. To help with the NFL–AFL merger, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle came to New Orleans. On November 1, 1966, he announced that New Orleans would get a new NFL team. The team was named after "When the Saints Go Marching In," a famous jazz song from New Orleans. Dixon suggested waiting until November 1 to announce the team, because that day is All Saints' Day. He even checked with the Archbishop of New Orleans, who thought it was a good idea.

The Early Years (1967–1984)

John W. Mecom Jr., a young oil businessman, became the team's first main owner. The team's colors, black and gold, represented his connection to the oil industry and New Orleans. The first head coach was Tom Fears. The Saints' first game was on September 17, 1967. Saints receiver John Gilliam returned the opening kickoff for a 94-yard touchdown. Even with that exciting start, they lost 27–13 to the Los Angeles Rams. The team finished that season with 3 wins and 11 losses, which was a record for a new expansion team.

For most of their first 20 years, the Saints usually finished last or second to last in their division. A memorable moment happened on November 8, 1970. Tom Dempsey kicked an NFL record-breaking 63-yard field goal at Tulane Stadium. This helped the Saints beat the Detroit Lions 19–17 in the final seconds. This record stood for a very long time.

In 1980, the Saints lost their first 14 games. This led a local sportscaster to suggest fans wear paper bags over their heads at games. Many bags changed the team's name to the "'Aints" instead of "Saints."

Archie Manning, a famous Saints quarterback, was one of the first players in the team's Ring of Honor.

The Benson Era (1985–Present)

New Leadership and First Playoff Wins

Tom Benson, a successful businessman, bought the team in 1985. He hired Jim Finks as general manager and Jim Mora as head coach. This new team led the Saints to their first winning record and playoff appearance in 1987. They won 12 games and lost 3 that year. They made the playoffs three more times under Mora. These teams were known for their strong defenses, called the "Dome Patrol." However, they could not win a playoff game during this time.

After Mora, Mike Ditka coached the team for a few years. His time was not very successful. In 1999, he traded many draft picks to get running back Ricky Williams. Ditka and most of his staff were fired after a 3–13 season.

Jim Haslett became head coach in 2000. In his first year, the team went 10–6 and made the playoffs. They beat the defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams for the team's first-ever playoff win! They lost the next week to the Minnesota Vikings.

Hurricane Katrina's Impact

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damage to the Superdome and New Orleans. The Saints could not play any home games in New Orleans that season. Their home games were played in other stadiums, like the Alamodome in San Antonio and Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

Tiger Stadium hosted some Saints games after Hurricane Katrina.

The Sean Payton and Drew Brees Era (2006–2021)

On January 17, 2006, the Saints hired Sean Payton as their new head coach. On March 14, they signed quarterback Drew Brees. These two would change the team's history. The Superdome was repaired, and the Saints returned home for the 2006 season. On September 19, the team announced that all season tickets were sold out for the first time ever.

The home opener on September 25 was the first game back in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The Saints won 23–3 against the undefeated Atlanta Falcons. This game was a huge moment for the city. It is remembered for Steve Gleason's blocked punt that led to a touchdown early in the game. The Saints won their division that year and made it to the NFC Championship game, but lost to the Chicago Bears.

The Saints continued to improve. In 2008, Drew Brees almost broke the NFL record for passing yards in a season.

Quarterback Drew Brees was named MVP of Super Bowl XLIV.

Super Bowl XLIV Champions (2009)

The 2009 season was the most successful in team history. The Saints started the season with 13 wins in a row, which was their best start ever. They made it to the playoffs and earned a first-round bye. Even though they lost their last three regular-season games, they became the first team to win a Super Bowl after doing so.

The Saints reached the NFC Championship game, where they beat the Minnesota Vikings 31–28 in overtime. This sent them to their first-ever Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XLIV, they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31–17. This victory was seen by many as a symbol of New Orleans' recovery after Hurricane Katrina. Drew Brees was named the Super Bowl MVP.

The Saints continued to be a strong team. In 2011, Drew Brees broke the NFL single-season passing record. The team also set many other records that year. They won their wild-card playoff game against the Detroit Lions but lost a close game to the San Francisco 49ers.

In 2012, head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire season due to a team issue. The team struggled, finishing with a 7–9 record. The Saints defense allowed a record number of yards that season.

Payton returned in 2013, and the Saints started with five straight wins. They finished the season 11–5 and won their first road playoff game in team history against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, they lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the next round.

From 2014 to 2016, the Saints finished with a 7–9 record each season. Their offense was strong, but their defense struggled. In 2015, their defense allowed the most passing touchdowns in NFL history.

In 2017, the Saints had a great turnaround, finishing 11–5 and winning their division. This was thanks to a strong draft class with players like Marshon Lattimore and Alvin Kamara. The defense improved a lot. They beat the Carolina Panthers in the wild-card round. However, they lost to the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round in a shocking play known as the "Minneapolis Miracle."

On March 15, 2018, team owner Tom Benson passed away. His wife, Gayle Benson, became the new owner. The Saints continued to be successful, winning their division in 2018, 2019, and 2020. In 2018, they lost a controversial NFC Championship game to the Los Angeles Rams. In 2020, they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional round. This was Drew Brees's final game before he retired.

After Brees retired, the Saints used several different quarterbacks in 2021. They finished 9–8 and missed the playoffs. On January 25, 2022, Sean Payton stepped down as head coach after 15 seasons.

Sean Payton was the head coach of the team from 2006 to 2021.

Dennis Allen's Coaching (2022–2024)

The team promoted defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to head coach on February 8, 2022. The Saints finished the 2022 season with a 7–10 record and missed the playoffs. In 2023, with new quarterback Derek Carr, the Saints finished 9–8 but still missed the playoffs. Dennis Allen was fired on November 4, 2024, after a 2–7 start to the season.

Team Look: Logos and Uniforms

The fleur-de-lis is the main symbol of the Saints.

The Saints logo from 1967 to 1984.

The Saints' colors have always been black, old gold, and white. The team's first owner, John W. Mecom Jr., wanted a different blue color. But the NFL said it was too similar to the San Diego Chargers. So, Mecom chose black as the main color. This was a nod to his work in the petroleum industry, as "black gold" is a term for oil.

The Saints' logo and uniforms have mostly stayed the same since 1967. The team's logo is a fleur-de-lis, which is a symbol of New Orleans and French royalty. Their uniforms have gold helmets, gold pants, and either black or white jerseys. Small changes have been made to the stripes and trim over the years. In 2022, the Saints started wearing black helmets, after the NFL changed a rule about helmets.

In their early years at Tulane Stadium (1967–1974), the Saints often wore white jerseys at home. This made opponents play in their darker jerseys in the hot New Orleans weather. In 1975, when they moved to the Superdome, they started wearing white pants. They have worn white at home many times since then.

Over the years, the Saints have tried different combinations of black and gold pants with their jerseys. They also had a gold alternate jersey in 2002, but it was only worn once. They also brought back a 1967-style throwback uniform for special games.

In 2016, the NFL started the Color Rush program. The Saints' Color Rush uniform is white with old gold numbers and black trim. They often wear these all-white uniforms, especially for road games. In 2019, they introduced a version with plain white pants.

In 2022, the Saints showed off an alternate black helmet. It has a gold fleur-de-lis on each side. These helmets are worn with the Color Rush uniforms. In 2025, the Saints will have a white helmet with a gold facemask and stripes. They will also have a new "Gameday Gold" alternate uniform.

Home Stadium

The Superdome has been the Saints' home stadium since 1975.

The Caesars Superdome is the Saints' home stadium. It can hold over 70,000 fans. The Saints have a perfect record there against the Houston Texans.

Team Rivalries

Divisional Rivals

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are the Saints' oldest rival. Both teams were among the first NFL teams in the southern United States in the late 1960s. They have played each other twice a season since 1967. The rivalry is very strong because of their many games and the history between the two cities. As of the 2024 season, the series is tied 56–56.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Saints have a growing rivalry with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams have been in the NFC South division since 2002. The Saints lead the overall series 40–27. These teams played each other often even before they were in the same division. In 1977, the Buccaneers got their first win in team history against the Saints, after losing their first 26 games. The two teams met in the playoffs for the first time on January 17, 2021, with Tampa Bay winning.

Carolina Panthers

The Saints and the Carolina Panthers have been division rivals since Carolina joined the league in 1995. They were first in the NFC West and then in the NFC South since 2002. The Panthers won in New Orleans every year from 2002 to 2008. A notable game was in 2005, when the Saints won an emotional game in Carolina after Hurricane Katrina. On January 7, 2018, the teams met in the NFL playoffs for the first time. The Saints won 31–26. As of the 2023 season, the Saints lead the series 31–28.

Conference Rivals

Minnesota Vikings

The Saints have a strong playoff rivalry with the Minnesota Vikings. They have played in many important regular-season and playoff games, including the famous Minneapolis Miracle. As of the 2024 season, the Vikings lead the overall series 25–13, and 4–1 in playoff games.

Los Angeles Rams

The Saints and the Los Angeles Rams used to be in the same division until 2002. Their rivalry became strong again in the 2010s. There was a lot of tension between the teams, especially during the controversial 2018 NFC Championship Game. In that game, a key play by the Rams was not called a penalty, which angered the Saints. As of the 2024 season, the teams are tied 1–1 in the playoffs, but the Rams lead the all-time series 45–35.

Team Statistics and Records

Overall Team Records

The New Orleans Saints have played in 59 NFL seasons since 1967. The team has a regular-season record of 417 wins, 480 losses, and 5 ties. In the playoffs, they have 10 wins and 13 losses. This gives them an overall record of 427 wins, 493 losses, and 5 ties.

Super Bowl Appearances

The Saints have appeared in one Super Bowl.

Amazing Single-Game Records

Here are some of the best performances by Saints players in a single game:

• Passing yards: 510 by Drew Brees (November 19, 2006, vs Cincinnati Bengals)
• Passing touchdowns: 7 by Drew Brees (November 1, 2015, vs New York Giants) – Tied NFL record
• Rushing yards: 206 by George Rogers (September 4, 1983, vs St. Louis Cardinals)
• Rushing touchdowns: 6 by Alvin Kamara (December 25, 2020, vs Minnesota Vikings) – Tied NFL record
• Receptions: 16 by Michael Thomas (September 9, 2018, vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Longest field goal: 63 yards by Tom Dempsey (November 8, 1970, vs Detroit Lions)
• Total touchdowns: 6 by Alvin Kamara (December 25, 2020, vs Minnesota Vikings) – Tied NFL record
• Points scored (team): 62 (October 23, 2011, vs Indianapolis Colts)
• First downs: 40 (November 10, 2013, vs Dallas Cowboys) – NFL record

Top Single-Season Records

These are some of the best performances by Saints players in a single season:

• Passing yards: 5,476 by Drew Brees (2011)
• Passing touchdowns: 46 by Drew Brees (2011)
• Rushing yards: 1,674 by George Rogers (1981)
• Rushing touchdowns: 16 by Alvin Kamara (2020)
• Receptions: 149 by Michael Thomas (2019) – NFL record
• Receiving yards: 1,725 by Michael Thomas (2019)
• Total touchdowns: 21 by Alvin Kamara (2020)
• All-purpose yards: 2,696 by Darren Sproles (2011) – NFL record

Career Records for Saints Players

These players hold the top career records for the Saints:

• Passing yards: 68,010 by Drew Brees (2006–2020)
• Passing touchdowns: 491 by Drew Brees (2006–2020)
• Rushing yards: 6,779 by Alvin Kamara (2017–2024)
• Rushing touchdowns: 60 by Alvin Kamara (2017–2024)
• Receptions: 711 by Marques Colston (2006–2015)
• Receiving yards: 9,759 by Marques Colston (2006–2015)
• Receiving touchdowns: 72 by Marques Colston (2006–2015)
• Quarterback sacks: 123 by Rickey Jackson (1981–1993)
• Points: 1,318 by Morten Andersen (1982–1994)

Famous Players and Honors

Pro Football Hall of Famers

These players and coaches who spent time with the Saints are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Rickey Jackson, Willie Roaf, Morten Andersen, and Sam Mills are considered to have earned their Hall of Fame status mostly as Saints players.

Pro Bowl Players

Many Saints players have been chosen for the Pro Bowl, which is an all-star game for the best players in the NFL. Some of these include:

• Quarterbacks: Drew Brees, Archie Manning
• Running Backs: Deuce McAllister, Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram II
• Offensive Linemen: Willie Roaf, Jahri Evans, Terron Armstead
• Tight Ends: Jimmy Graham
• Wide Receivers: Joe Horn, Michael Thomas
• Defensive Linemen: Cameron Jordan, La'Roi Glover
• Linebackers: Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Demario Davis
• Defensive Backs: Marshon Lattimore, Darren Sharper
• Kickers: Morten Andersen, Tom Dempsey

Super Bowl MVPs

One Saints player has been named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Super Bowl:

Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award

This award honors players for their excellent work on the field and in their communities.

Ring of Honor

The Saints have a Ring of Honor at the Caesars Superdome to celebrate important players and people who helped the team.

New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame

The Saints also have their own Hall of Fame to honor players and staff.

¹ 2005 induction ceremonies were moved to October 27, 2006, because of Hurricane Katrina.

New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame Courage Award

This award is given to a person who has shown great courage.

Team Staff

Current Coaches

Joe Gemelli Fleur-De-Lis Award

The Joe Gemelli Fleur-De-Lis Award is given each year to someone who has helped the New Orleans Saints organization. Joe Gemelli was a big supporter of sports in New Orleans and known as the team's biggest fan.

Current Roster

Cheerleaders

Saintsations performing at halftime

The Saints Cheer Krewe is the cheerleading squad for the Saints. A cheerleading squad has been with the team since it started. The squad was known as the Saintsations from 1987 to 2021. The current name was adopted in 2021.

Radio and Television

Map of radio stations that broadcast Saints games.

The main radio station for the Saints is WWL (870 AM/105.3 FM). It is one of the oldest and most powerful radio stations in New Orleans. Mike Hoss is the play-by-play announcer, and former Saints running back Deuce McAllister is the color commentator.

Most preseason games are shown on WVUE (Channel 8). This station also shows most regular-season Saints games because it is the Fox affiliate in New Orleans. Regular season games are also shown on WWL-TV (CBS) and WDSU (NBC) for Sunday Night Football.

Images for kids

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  New Orleans Saints wordmark

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  New Orleans Saints logo

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  New Orleans Saints uniforms

See also

In Spanish: New Orleans Saints para niños