
TheNew Orleans Saints are a professionalAmerican football team based inNew Orleans,Louisiana. The Saints compete in theNational Football League (NFL) as a member of theNational Football Conference (NFC)South Division.[1] The NFL awarded the city of New Orleans the sixteenth franchise in the league on November 1, 1966,All Saints' Day, five months after the89th United States Congress approved themerger of the NFL with the American Football League (AFL).[2] In January 1967, the team was given the name "New Orleans Saints", and began playing in theirfirst season in September of that year. Throughout the franchise's history, it has always been based in New Orleans. Home games were originally played atTulane Stadium from 1967 to 1974. The team relocated its home games to its current stadium, theCaesars Superdome (originally Louisiana Superdome from 1975 to 2011 and later Mercedes-Benz Superdome from 2011 to 2021), in 1975.[3][4] The Saints were owned by oilmanJohn W. Mecom Jr. from 1966 to 1985, when the team was sold toTom Benson.[5] He remained owner until his death in 2018, at which point primary ownership of the team passed to his wifeGayle Benson.[6] She has since made arrangements with the NFL to sell the team and keep the Saints in New Orleans when she dies.[7]
Over their 58 seasons in the NFL, the Saints have accumulated a record of 417 wins, 480 losses, and 5 ties, which is the tenth-worst all-timeregular season record among active franchises.[A][8] They have also made theplayoffs fourteen times and have the ninth-worst playoff record[A] with 10 wins and 13 losses.[8] The Saints won their first and onlySuper Bowl championship in 2010 when the team defeated theIndianapolis Colts inSuper Bowl XLIV.[9][10] In addition to their Super Bowl win, the Saints have won theNFC Championship once and a division title nine times, winning the NFC West twice (1991 and2000) and the NFC South seven times (2006,2009,2011,2017,2018,2019, and2020).[2] The team currently has eighteen winning seasons, seven 8–8 seasons, and thirty-three losing seasons.[9] The Saints did not have their first winning season until1987, their twenty-first season in the league.[11] That same season, the Saints made their first playoff appearance.[2] During the team's worst season in1980 (in terms ofwin-loss percentage) the fans began to wear paper bags over their heads to games and started to call the team the"'Aints".[12]

| Finish | Final position in league, division, or conference |
|---|---|
| Pct | The team'swinning percentage for the season |
| ‡ | Super Bowl champions |
| * | Conference champions |
| ^ | Division champions |
| § | Wild Card berth |
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Postseason results | Awards | Head coach | Refs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | W | L | T | Pct | |||||||||
| 1967 | 1967 | NFL | Eastern | Capitol | 4th | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 | Tom Fears | [16] | ||
| 1968 | 1968 | NFL | Eastern | Century | 3rd | 4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | [17] | |||
| 1969 | 1969 | NFL | Eastern | Capitol | 3rd | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | [18] | |||
| 1970 | 1970 | NFL | NFC[B] | West[B] | 4th | 2 | 11 | 1 | .179 | Tom Fears(1–5–1) J. D. Roberts(1–6) | [21] | ||
| 1971 | 1971 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 4 | 8 | 2 | .357 | J. D. Roberts | [22] | ||
| 1972 | 1972 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 2 | 11 | 1 | .179 | [23] | |||
| 1973 | 1973 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | John North | [24] | ||
| 1974 | 1974 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | [25] | |||
| 1975 | 1975 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | John North(1–5) Ernie Hefferle(1–7) | [26] | ||
| 1976 | 1976 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | Hank Stram | [27] | ||
| 1977 | 1977 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 | [28] | |||
| 1978 | 1978 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | Dick Nolan | [29][C] | ||
| 1979 | 1979 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | [31] | |||
| 1980 | 1980 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 1 | 15 | 0 | .063 | Dick Nolan(0–12) Dick Stanfel(1–3) | [32] | ||
| 1981 | 1981 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | George Rogers (OROYTooltip AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year) | Bum Phillips | [33][34] | |
| 1982 | 1982 | NFL | NFC | None[D] | 9th[D] | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | [36] | |||
| 1983 | 1983 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | [37] | |||
| 1984 | 1984 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [38] | |||
| 1985 | 1985 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | Bum Phillips(4–8) Wade Phillips(1–3) | [39] | ||
| 1986 | 1986 | NFL | NFC | West | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | Jim E. Mora | [40] | ||
| 1987 | 1987 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd§ | 12 | 3 | 0 | .800 | LostWild Card playoffs (Vikings) 10–44 | Jim E. Mora (COYTooltip AP NFL Coach of the Year) | [41][42][E] | |
| 1988 | 1988 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | [44] | |||
| 1989 | 1989 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | [45] | |||
| 1990 | 1990 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd§ | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | LostWild Card playoffs (atBears) 6–16 | [46] | ||
| 1991 | 1991 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | LostWild Card playoffs (Falcons) 20–27 | Pat Swilling (DPOYTooltip AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year) | [47][48] | |
| 1992 | 1992 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd§ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | LostWild Card playoffs (Eagles) 20–36 | [49] | ||
| 1993 | 1993 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | [50] | |||
| 1994 | 1994 | NFL | NFC | West | 2nd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [51] | |||
| 1995 | 1995 | NFL | NFC | West | 5th | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [52] | |||
| 1996 | 1996 | NFL | NFC | West | 5th | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | Jim E. Mora(2–6) Rick Venturi(1–7) | [53] | ||
| 1997 | 1997 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | Mike Ditka | [54] | ||
| 1998 | 1998 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | [55] | |||
| 1999 | 1999 | NFL | NFC | West | 5th | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | [56] | |||
| 2000 | 2000 | NFL | NFC | West^ | 1st^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | WonWild Card playoffs (Rams) 31–28 LostDivisional playoffs (atVikings) 16–34 | Jim Haslett (COYTooltip AP NFL Coach of the Year) | Jim Haslett | [57][58] |
| 2001 | 2001 | NFL | NFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [59] | |||
| 2002 | 2002 | NFL | NFC | South[F] | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | [61] | |||
| 2003 | 2003 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | [62] | |||
| 2004 | 2004 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | [63] | |||
| 2005 | 2005 | NFL | NFC | South | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | [64] | |||
| 2006 | 2006 | NFL | NFC | South^ | 1st^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | WonDivisional playoffs (Eagles) 27–24 LostNFC Championship (atBears) 14–39 | Sean Payton (COYTooltip AP NFL Coach of the Year) Drew Brees (WPMOYTooltip Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year) | Sean Payton | [65][66][67] |
| 2007 | 2007 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [68] | |||
| 2008 | 2008 | NFL | NFC | South | 4th | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | Drew Brees (OPOYTooltip AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year) | [69][70] | ||
| 2009 | 2009 | NFL‡ | NFC* | South^ | 1st^ | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | WonDivisional playoffs (Cardinals) 45–14 WonNFC Championship (Vikings) 31–28(OT) WonSuper Bowl XLIV(1) (vs.Colts) 31–17 | Drew Brees (SB MVPTooltip Super Bowl Most Valuable Player) | [71][72] | |
| 2010 | 2010 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd§ | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | LostWild Card playoffs (atSeahawks)36–41 | [73] | ||
| 2011 | 2011 | NFL | NFC | South^ | 1st^ | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | WonWild Card playoffs (Lions) 45–28 LostDivisional playoffs (at49ers) 32–36 | Drew Brees (OPOYTooltip AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year) | [74][70] | |
| 2012 | 2012 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | Aaron Kromer(2–4) Joe Vitt(5–5) | [75] | ||
| 2013 | 2013 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd§ | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | WonWild Card playoffs (atEagles) 26–24 LostDivisional playoffs (atSeahawks) 15–23 | Sean Payton | [76] | |
| 2014 | 2014 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [77] | |||
| 2015 | 2015 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [78] | |||
| 2016 | 2016 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [79] | |||
| 2017 | 2017 | NFL | NFC | South^ | 1st^ | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | WonWild Card playoffs (Panthers) 31–26 LostDivisional playoffs (atVikings)24–29 | Alvin Kamara (OROYTooltip AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year) Marshon Lattimore (DROYTooltip AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year) | [80][81] | |
| 2018 | 2018 | NFL | NFC | South^ | 1st^ | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | WonDivisional playoffs (Eagles) 20–14 LostNFC Championship (Rams)23–26(OT) | [82] | ||
| 2019 | 2019 | NFL | NFC | South^ | 1st^ | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | LostWild Card playoffs (Vikings) 20–26(OT) | Michael Thomas (OPOYTooltip AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year) | [83][84] | |
| 2020 | 2020 | NFL | NFC | South^ | 1st^ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | WonWild Card playoffs (Bears) 21–9 LostDivisional playoffs (Buccaneers) 20–30 | [85] | ||
| 2021 | 2021 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | [86][G] | |||
| 2022 | 2022 | NFL | NFC | South | 3rd | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 | Dennis Allen | [88] | ||
| 2023 | 2023 | NFL | NFC | South | 2nd | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | [89] | |||
| 2024 | 2024 | NFL | NFC | South | 4th | 5 | 12 | 0 | .294 | Dennis Allen(2–7) Darren Rizzi(3–5) | [90] | ||
| Totals | 417 | 480 | 5 | .465 | All-time regular season record (1967–2024) | [9] | |||||||
| 10 | 13 | — | .435 | All-time postseason record (1967–2024) | |||||||||
| 427 | 493 | 5 | .464 | All-time regular & postseason record (1967–2024) | |||||||||