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.
