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New Orleans Saints

On November 1, 1966, the NFL awarded its 16th franchise to New Orleans. It was All Saints Day. No one was really surprised when, in January 1967, the team eager to create as much fan enthusiasm as possible in a city that hadn't previously been exposed to pro football, the Saints obtained three future Hall of Famers for their 1967 roster: Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor (a Louisiana State grid hero) came from Green Bay, and defensive end Doug Atkins came in a trade with the Chicago Bears.

The Saints took "The City That Care Forgot" by storm. They won five of their six preseason games. On September 17, 1967, they opened the regular season against the Los Angeles Rams. Before a packed house of 80,879 in Tulane Stadium, John Gilliam took the opening kickoff and raced 94 yards for a touchdown. (The Rams went on to win, 27-13.) A final-game victory over the Washington Redskins allowed the Saints to match the 3-11 first-year record of both Minnesota (1961) and Atlanta (1966).

New Orleans faltered year-after-year-after-year-after-year on the field. Still, they managed to thrill their fans with some exciting victories and memorable moments. No doubt the most famous was Tom Dempsey's last-second, NFL-record, 63-yard field goal in 1970 that carried New Orleans over Detroit, 19-17. Outstanding players such as quarterback Archie Manning, running back George Rogers, linebacker Rickey Jackson, and placekicker Morten Andersen were integral to the Saints and their march toward respectability.

In 1979 and 1983, the Saints finished 8-8. But it wasn't until 1987, their 21st season, that the Saints had a winning year. That year, under coach Jim Mora, the Saints were 12-3 and finished second in the NFC West. Between 1987 and 1992, the Saints reached the playoffs four times in six seasons, including 1991, when they won their lone NFC West title.

New Orleans Saints Facts

• · Franchise Granted
  November 1, 1966
• · First Season
  1967
• · Stadium
  Louisiana Superdome (69,729)
• · Owner
  Tom Benson
• · Executive Vice-President of Administration
  Jim Miller
• · President/General Manager/Chief Operating Officer
  Bill Kuharich
• · NFC Western Division Championship
  1991, 2000
• · 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
  George Rogers, 4,267 yards (1981-84).
• · Most Yards Passing, Career
  Archie Manning, 21,734 yards (1971-82).
• · Most Receptions, Career
  Eric Martin, 532 receptions (1985-93).
• · All-Time Leading Scorer
  Morten Andersen, 1,318 points (1982-94).
• · Longest Field Goal
  Tom Dempsey's 63-yard field goal vs. the Detroit Lions on 11/8/70, is still an NFL record.
• · It's a Fact
  The Superdome roof covers 9.7 acres.
• NFL

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