After many years of waiting football fans in the Deep South would finally have an NFL team to support as the New Orleans Saints began play September 17, 1967 against the Los Angeles Rams in a sold-out Tulane Stadium.Â
This clip includes a little background info going on during the off season as well as a few sound bytes from that historical opening day in 1967.
I've been following the Saints since a kid in the 70s watching the likes of Archie Manning and Tommy Myers.
We may not have as grandiose a history as some NFL teams, but there are scores of memories the New Orleans Saints have given to their fans and I have done my best to record them here at New Orleans Saints History.
A water-color painting of the original New Orleans Saints team uniform of 1967. Thanks to Heritage Sports Arts for permission to share it.
The New Orleans Saints 1967 Team Roster at NOSaintsHistory.com.
New Orleans Saints – Los Angeles Rams in 1967. Merlin Olsen gets pressure on Billy Kilmer
An Audio clip of Some New Orleans History – pre-Saints days and the efforts that were being made to bring a Pro Football team to the Crescent City.
Early Saints Action from 1967. Big Doug Atkins along with other New Orleans Saints defenders move in on Colts runner Tom Matte.
A short highlights video of the New Orleans Saints sidelines during their first ever NFL exhibition game in 1967 against the Los Angeles Rams at Anaheim Stadium. Saints head coach Tom Fears seems to be the focus as NFL Films producer Ed Sabol lends commentary.