The inaugural game on September 17, 1967, started with a bang when John Gilliam returned the opening kickoff 94-yards for a touchdown, but the Saints lost the game 27-13 to the Los Angeles Rams.
Tom Myers returned 36 interceptions for a total of 621 yards.
Brooks retired in 2007 as the Saints' franchise leader in both season and career touchdown passes, though both records have since been broken by Drew Brees.
Marques Colston holds the team record for receiving yards (9,759), yards from scrimmage (9,766), receiving touchdowns (72), total touchdowns (72), and receptions (711).
Al Hirt is best remembered for his million-selling recordings of "Java" and the accompanying album Honey in the Horn (1963), and for the theme music to The Green Hornet. In 1967, he became a minority owner in the NFL expansion New Orleans Saints.
One of the franchise's early bright moments came on November 8, 1970, when Tom Dempsey kicked an NFL record 63-yard field goal at Tulane Stadium to defeat the Detroit Lions 19-17 in the final seconds of the game. Dempsey's record was not broken until 2013 by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos, who kicked one yard farther (at elevation in Colorado).
A symbol that is deeply ingrained in Louisiana history, the fleur-de-lis is seen in architecture, the state flag and on the helmets of the New Orleans Saints.
They played their home games in Tulane Stadium through the 1974 NFL season. The following year, they moved to the new Louisiana Superdome.
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