The Saints’ road to their first Super Bowl wasn’t an easy one, as for years they were one of the unluckiest, most bumbling franchises in sports. We review their tale of football woe.
1967: After John Gilliam returns the opening kickoff 94 yards for the team’s first-ever touchdown, the Saints are out of breath for the rest of the season
1970: Though he was able make a game-winning, record-setting 63-yard field goal, Tom Dempsey kicks off half his foot in the process
1975: The Louisiana Superdome is built as a place to play Final Fours, Super Bowls, and huge arena rock concerts; four years later, management begrudgingly allows the Saints to play there, too
1978: The NFL expands to a 16-game season, giving the Saints an opportunity to lose even more games
1980: Giant paper bag placed over entire city of New Orleans
1984: Running back Earl Campbell bursts through the defensive line, throws linebackers aside, and runs 80 yards to the end zone before realizing he forgot to grab the handoff
1989: Third rather disappointing Mardi Gras in a row makes it impossible for the team to sign free agents
1999: To acquire Ricky Williams, Mike Ditka trades the entire 1999 draft, two picks in the 2000 draft, the next four Mardi Gras parades, and the city’s jazz tradition
2001: Aiming to set modest, achievable goals, head coach Jim Haslett starts training camp by printing up and distributing “7-9 or Bust” T-shirts
2005: In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Saints stay on friends’ couches and play all their scheduled home games at friends’ stadiums
