New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints were awarded to the city on November 1, 1966, All Saints’ Day, and began play in 1967. After a long stretch of struggles, the franchise became one of the NFC’s most successful teams in the Drew Brees era. The Saints compete in the NFC South.

Super Bowl history

In the 2009 season, just a few years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and damaged the Superdome, the Saints won their first and only Super Bowl. Coach Sean Payton’s gutsy onside kick to open the second half helped swing Super Bowl XLIV, and New Orleans beat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 with Drew Brees named MVP.

Best players in Saints history

• Drew Brees – Super Bowl XLIV MVP who retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards.
• Rickey Jackson – Hall of Fame linebacker and the franchise’s first great defensive star.
• Willie Roaf – Hall of Fame offensive tackle.
• Morten Andersen – Hall of Fame kicker who spent 13 seasons in New Orleans.
• Archie Manning – Beloved quarterback of the 1970s and the franchise’s first star.
• Cameron Jordan – Longtime star pass rusher and the franchise sack leader.
• Marques Colston – Seventh-round steal who became the Saints’ all-time leading receiver.
• Michael Thomas – Set the NFL single-season receptions record in 2019.
• Steve Gleason – His blocked punt in the Superdome’s 2006 reopening became a symbol of the city’s recovery.

Biggest rivalries

The Atlanta Falcons are New Orleans’ fiercest rival in the “Southern Showdown,” which dates back to 1967. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers round out the NFC South.