New Orleans Saints · Franchise era 1 of 7
The long beginning: the New Orleans Saints story
Franchise era
1967—1986
The long beginning
New Orleans Saints
The story in one sentence
New Orleans produced beloved moments but no winning season in its first two decades, turning loyalty itself into the franchise's defining trait.
Dempsey's kick and Manning's resilience
Archie Manning, Tom Dempsey and Chuck Muncie gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for the dome patrol.
Timeline
How it unfolded
The foundation
The franchise context
The Saints moved from bags-over-head futility to the Dome Patrol, then became a symbol of civic recovery and offensive invention through Sean Payton and Drew Brees.
1967—1986
The long beginning
New Orleans produced beloved moments but no winning season in its first two decades, turning loyalty itself into the franchise's defining trait.
After 1986
What came next
Jim Mora's defense sent four linebackers to the Pro Bowl and ended the franchise's wait for winning seasons and playoff football.
The core