New Orleans Saints · Franchise era 2 of 7
The Dome Patrol: the New Orleans Saints story
The story in one sentence
Jim Mora's defense sent four linebackers to the Pro Bowl and ended the franchise's wait for winning seasons and playoff football.
Linebacker defense delivers the first winners
Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills and Pat Swilling gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for the first playoff win and katrina.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1987
What came before
New Orleans produced beloved moments but no winning season in its first two decades, turning loyalty itself into the franchise's defining trait.
1991-01-06
Wild Card: New Orleans Saints vs Chicago Bears
1991-12-28
Wild Card: Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans Saints
1993-01-03
Wild Card: Philadelphia Eagles vs New Orleans Saints
- 13TradeApril 17, 1999
April 17, 1999
Mike Ditka's entire-draft wager on Ricky Williams
Mike Ditka treated one Heisman-winning runner as a complete draft class. Washington chose volume and immediately began moving the incoming choices again.
To NO19991STround asset
To WAS19991STround asset19993RDround asset+6 assetsThe Ricky Williams trade-upNO receives 1999 first · No. 5WAS receives 1999 first · No. 12, 1999 third · No. 71, 1999 fourth · No. 107 + 5 more9 original assets · 3 outcomes tracedOpen trade → After 1999
What came next
New Orleans won its first playoff game before Hurricane Katrina forced the team across multiple home fields and placed its future in doubt.
The core