1967 New Orleans Saints season

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1967 New Orleans Saints season

Top
1967 New Orleans Saints season
Head coach Tom Fears
Home field Tulane Stadium
Results
Record 3-11
Division Place 4th Capitol
Playoff finish did not qualify
Timeline
Previous season      Next season
N/A      1968

The 1967 New Orleans Saints season was the Saints inaugural season.

Contents

Offseason

Expansion Draft

The Saints made a splash in the expansion draft by selecting Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung. Lombardi was distraught when the Saints selected Hornung in the draft.[1] In later years, Hornung revealed that he spoke to Saints coach Tom Fears prior to the draft. Fears was a former assistant in Green Bay and Fears felt that Hornung would help sell tickets in New Orleans.[1] Several weeks later, the Saints also signed Packers running back Jim Taylor. Taylor had felt underpaid and underappreciated under Lombardi.[2] An examination at the Scripps Clinic in California found the severing of the fifth, sixth, and seventh verterbrae, and damaged nerve roots in the spinal cord of Hornung. It was decided that Hornung would retire and he would never play a game for the Saints.[2]

NFL Draft

Round Pick Player Position School
1

Regular season

Things look couldn't look better for the Saints and their inaugural season. A 5-1 preseason record was followed by a 94-yard kick-off return for a touchdown by rookie John Gilliam to begin the 1967 season against the Los Angeles Rams. ( There is a rumor in the annals of New Orleans Saints legends that following this play many fans allegedly heard another fan in Tulane Stadium shout out aloud "This is going to be the greatest football team in history!" -- thus forever jinxing the Saints). Apparently the Rams were not informed of this declaration as they quickly recovered from the opening blow to win 27-13. The first-ever win for the Saints came in week 8 when rookie wide receiver Flea Roberts scored 3 touchdowns in a 31-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. With additional triumphs over Atlanta and Washington the 3 wins for the year matched the most for an expansion team. Former Green Bay Great Jim Taylor lead the team with 390 yards rushing and 17th round pick rookie Danny Abramowicz from Xavier College led in receiving with 50 grabs for 721 yards and 6 touchdowns. Defensive back Dave Whitshell lead the team as well as the NFL in interceptions with 10 steals—still a New Orleans Saint season record.

Schedule

DATE OPPONENT RESULT ATTENDANCE
September 17 Los Angeles Rams L 13-27
80,879
September 24 Washington Redskins L 10-30
74,937
October 1 Cleveland Browns L 7-42
77,045
October 8 at New York Giants L 21-27
62,670
October 15 at Dallas Cowboys L 10-14
64,128
October 22 at San Francisco 49ers L 13-27
34,285
October 29 Pittsburgh Steelers L 10-14
68,911
November 5 Philadelphia Eagles W 31-24
59,596
November 12 Dallas Cowboys L 10-27
83,437
November 19 at Philadelphia Eagles L 28-41
60,751
November 26 Atlanta Falcons W 27-24
83,437
December 3 at St. Louis Cardinals L 20-31
41,171
December 10 at Baltimore Colts L 10-30
60,238
December 17 at Washington Redskins W 30-14
50,486

Standings

NFL Capitol
W L T PCT PF PA STK
Dallas Cowboys 9 5 0 .643 342 268 L-1
Philadelphia Eagles 6 7 1 .462 351 409 W-1
Washington Redskins 5 6 3 .455 347 353 L-1
New Orleans Saints 3 11 0 .214 233 379 W-1

Roster

Awards and records

Milestones

References

  1. ^ a b When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss,p. 407, Simon & Schuster, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3
  2. ^ a b When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss,p. 408, Simon & Schuster, 1999, ISBN 978-0-684-84418-3
Eastern Conference Western Conference
Capitol Century Coastal Central
Dallas Cleveland Atlanta Chicago
New Orleans NY Giants Baltimore Detroit
Philadelphia Pittsburgh Los Angeles Green Bay
Washington St. Louis San Francisco Minnesota
1967 NFL DraftNFL PlayoffsNFL ChampionshipPro BowlSuper Bowl II
Related: 1967 AFL Season

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