Team: New Orleans Saints
Sport: Pro Football (NFL)
Stadium: Superdome
Head Coach: Jim Haslett
Super Bowls: None
Background: New Orleans was granted an NFL franchise
on 1 November, 1966. John W. Mecom, Jr became the majority
stockholder, and the team was named the Saints on 9 January
1967. Despite a 94 yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown
by John Gilliam, the Saints lost their first match 27-13 to
the Los Angeles Rams. Their first season record was 3-11.
Current Saints owner Tom Benson acquired the franchise in
1985, and hired Jim Finks as general manager and Jim Mora
as head coach. That combination provided the Saints with their
first ever winning record, 12-3 in 1987.
Current coach Jim Haslett has held the post since 2000, in
which year he took the team to the playoffs but lost to the
Minnesota Vikings. The Saints failed to make the playoffs
in 2001 and 2002, although in the latter year they had the
distinction of beating the eventual Super Bowl XXXVII winners
Tampa Bay in both their regular season matches.
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