The New Orleans Saints debuted as an NFL team in 1967 and it took quite somet time before they accomplished even a modest level of success. Throughout the ages though this didn’t stop the team from getting some memorable moments and wonderful players which include Archie Manning, Earl Campbell, George Rogers, Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Pat Swilling, Bobby Hebert, Joe Horn, Deuce McAllister, Drew Brees and Reggie Bush. The Saints have reworked themselves from a perennial cellar dweller team into one of the franchises that the opposition constantly has to be apprehensive about. Here is a glimpse at five trivia items you almost certainly don’t know concerning the New Orleans Saints.
1. The first touchdown was scored by the New Orleans Saints via a 94 yard opening kickoff return by John Gilliam in their first game in 1967.
2. Due to damage to the Louisiana Superdome due to Hurricane Katrina, the Saints played all of their home games at other sites throughout the 2005 season. They played four home games at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, 3 home video games at Louisiana State University’s Tiger Stadium, and one home game in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
3. The Saints traded each and every draft pick they had in 1999 as well as a first and third rounder in 2000 for the rights to draft University of Tx running back Ricky Williams.
4. New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey set the record for the longest field goal ever in the NFL when he kicked a 63 yard field goal against the Detroit Lions in November of 1970. This kick was made with two mere seconds remaining on the clock and won the game by a score of 19-17.
5. The New Orleans Saints were the first NFL team to put on all black uniforms, both pants and jerseys, when they did so in a 2001 away game against the Carolina Panthers.
The New Orleans Saints’ history as the only professional football team the city of New Orleans has ever known has not always been the smoothest and most pleasant. The team is well loved by the locals though, as was more than evident following the one year absence following Hurricane Katrina when they had to play their home games elsewhere. The Saints shall always be an critical element of everything that makes New Orleans special for a lot of years to come.