Brees and the “Dome Patrol” highlight the Saints all-time team
Brees and the “Dome Patrol” highlight the Saints all-time team
Fans of the New Orleans Saints had to wait a long time to see their team have success on the field. The Saints went 12-3 in their 21st season in 1987 and won their first division title four years later.
New Orleans held off the Rams in the 2000 Wild Card round for their first-ever playoff victory and reached the NFC Championship Game in 2006. The Saints won their only championship three years later, defeating the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.
The star from that title team, quarterback Drew Brees, along with four linebackers from the late 1980s and early ’90s known as the “Dome Patrol” make the Saints’ all-time team.
Head Coach: Sean Payton is entering his 13th year as coach. Despite missing the 2012 season after being suspended as part of the “Bountygate” scandal, he has amassed a 118-74 record and led the Saints to the playoffs seven times. New Orleans went to the NFC Championship Game three times and won Super Bowl XLIV. In ten full seasons, Jim Mora compiled a 93-74 record, including four double-digit win totals and the franchise’s first four playoff appearances. However, New Orleans lost in the Wild Card round all four years. Jim Haslett led the team to the playoffs in his first year in 2000. The Saints held on to beat the Rams in the Wild Card game for their first playoff victory, but didn’t reach the postseason again in the rest of Haslett’s five years. Oail Andrews “Bum” Phillips had a 27-42 record over five seasons in the early 1980s.
Quarterback: Brees helped lead the team to their only championship and was named the MVP of Super Bowl XLIV. He is the NFL’s all-time leader with 74,437 yards passing, including 62,089 in 13 seasons in New Orleans. His 520 passing touchdowns (440 with the Saints) rank second behind Peyton Manning’s 539. He has gone to 11 Pro Bowls, and has 12 seasons with 4,000 or more yards passing and four with 5,000 or more. Brees led the league in yards seven times, touchdowns four times, and he was an All-Pro and the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner in 2006. He was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2011, with the latter coming after leading the league with 5,476 yards and 46 scoring passes. Archie Manning ranks second in team history with 21,734 yards and third with 115 touchdowns. The two-time Pro Bowler had three 3,000-yard passing seasons and is the father of Peyton and Eli, who each won two titles. Aaron Brooks is second with 120 scoring passes and also had 3,000 or more yards four times. He helped lead New Orleans to their first playoff victory in 2000. Bobby Hebert had a pair of 3,000-yard seasons and led the Saints to their first four postseason appearances.
Running Back: Dulymus “Deuce” McAllister is the team’s all-time leader with 6,096 yards and ranks second with 49 touchdowns. He was a two-time Pro Bowler who had four 1,000-yard seasons (with a high of 1,641 in 2003) and played in the 2006 NFC Championship Game. Mark Ingram is first with 50 scores and second with 6,007 yards. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and played in last year’s NFC title game before signing with the Ravens in the offseason. George Rogers is a former Heisman Trophy winner who also ran for 4,267 yards and made two Pro Bowls in four seasons. He was an All-Pro and the Offensive Rookie of the Year after running for a league-high and franchise-record 1,674 yards in 1981. Dalton Hilliard ran for 4,164 yards and 39 touchdowns, including 1,262 yards and 13 scores in his 1989 Pro Bowl season. Pierre Thomas was a multi-purpose back who ran for 3,745 yards and played in Super Bowl XLIV. Rueben Mayes was a two-time Pro Bowler and the Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,353 yards in 1986. Chuck Muncie was a member of the 1976 All-Rookie Team and made the Pro Bowl after a 1,198-yard season in 1979. Alvin Kamara has only been in the league for two years, but he already has been the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017, earned two Pro Bowl selections and played in the 2018 NFC Championship Game.
Fullback: Tony Galbreath spent five seasons as part of “Thunder and Lightning” with Muncie. His best season was 1979, when the team went 8-8 for the first time and he scored nine touchdowns. Craig “Ironhead” Heyward was a bruiser who blocked for Hilliard and Mayes and appeared in three playoff games.
Wide Receiver: Despite amassing franchise records with 711 receptions, 9.759 yards and 72 touchdowns over 10 seasons, Marques Colston never went to the Pro Bowl. The man called “Quiet Storm” was a member of the All-Rookie Team and appeared in the NFC Championship Game in 2006. The following year, he set career highs with 92 catches, 1,202 yards, and 11 scores. The Super Bowl XLIV participant had 1,000 or more yards six times. Eric Martin ranks second with 532 receptions and 7,854 yards and fourth with 48 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl in 1998 and had three 1,000-yard seasons. Although he was best known for pulling a cell phone out of the goal post pad for a touchdown celebration, Joe Horn also ranks third with 523 catches and 7,622 yards and 50 scores. Horn went to four Pro Bowls, including 2004, when he set career bests in all three main categories. Danny Abramowicz had 4,875 yards and 37 touchdowns, and he made the Pro Bowl in 1969. Devery Henderson and Lance Moore both had more than 4,000 yards and joined Colston on teams that went to Super Bowl XLIV and the 2006 NFC Championship Game. Current star Michael Thomas is a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro last season after amassing 1,450 yards and leading the league with 125 receptions. Quinn Early had 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns in 1995. Brandin Cooks had two 1,000-yard seasons.
Tight End: Jimmy Graham ranks second in team history with 51 touchdowns, fourth with 386 catches and fifth with 4,752 yards. The three-time Pro Bowler was also an All-Pro in 2013, when he led the NFL with 13 scores. Hoby Brenner had 3,849 yards, appeared in four playoff games and made the Pro Bowl in 1987. Henry Childs had nine touchdowns in 1977 and made the Pro Bowl two years later. John Tice played in 132 games and teamed with Brenner during the 1980s.
Tackle: Hall of Famer Willie Roaf was selected to seven Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams in nine seasons. Stan Brock was a member of the 1980 All-Rookie Team who played in 186 games. In four seasons, Jammal Brown made two Pro Bowls, was on the All-Rookie Team in 2005 and was an All-Pro the following year. Jermon Bushrod made two Pro Bowls and played in Super Bowl XLIV. His teammate, Zach Strief, played in 158 games over 12 seasons. Jon Stinchcomb (2009) and Terron Armstead (2018) both earned Pro Bowl nods, and Kyle Turley was an All-Pro in 2000.
Guard: Jahri Evans was a six-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro. He played in Super Bowl XLIV and the 2006 NFC title game. After starting his career as a left tackle, Jim Dombrowski moved to left guard and played 151 games overall in 11 seasons. Carl Nicks played in Super Bowl XLIV, was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2011. Larry Warford has made the Pro Bowl in both of his seasons in New Orleans. His teammate in the 2018 NFC Championship Game, Andrus Peat, joined him in the Pro Bowl last year. Jake Kupp (106 games) and Del Williams (92) were both original Saints starters. Kupp made the Pro Bowl in 1969. Ben Grubbs was Pro Bowler in 2013.
Center: Joel Hilgenberg played 142 games in 10 seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 1992. John Hill made 134 starts over 10 years. Two-time Pro Bowler LeCharles Bentley split time between center and right guard. Jonathan Goodwin was a Pro Bowler in the 2009 Super Bowl season. Jerry Fontenot played 100 games in seven years.
Defensive End: Cameron Jordan is a four-time Pro Bowler who ranks fourth in team history with 71½ sacks, including 13 in his 2017 All-Pro season. Wayne Martin ranks second with 82½ sacks while splitting time between left end and left tackle. The 1994 Pro Bowler also had 13 fumble recoveries and 596 tackles. Will Smith is fifth with 67½ sacks, including 13 in the 2009 Super Bowl season. He was a Pro Bowler in 2006 and led the NFL with six of his 20 forced fumbles in 2004. Frank Warren ranks fifth 52½ sacks, but missed the 1990 season due to a drug suspension. Two-time Pro Bowler Joe Johnson is sixth with 50½ sacks, including 12 in 2000, when he recovered from a knee injury to win the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Charles Grant had 47 sacks, 17 forced fumbles and played in Super Bowl XLIV. Darren Howard amassed 44½ sacks, including 11 each in 2000 and ’04. Jim Wilks had 45½ sacks and played 193 games in 13 seasons. Bruce Clark totaled 39½ sacks, with 10½ coming in his 1984 Pro Bowl season.
Defensive Tackle: La’Roi Glover had 50 sacks, including a league-high 17 in 2000. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2000. Derland Moore played in 170 games in 13 seasons. Sedrick Ellis appeared in Super Bowl XLIV and started 70 games.
Outside Linebacker: Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson was the leader of the “Dome Patrol,” which harassed opposing quarterbacks in the late 1980s and early ’90s. The six-time Pro Bowler is the team’s all-time leader with 115 sacks, with six seasons of 10 or more. He had 100 or more tackles five times and tops the franchise list with 1,104. Jackson also holds club records with 38 forced fumbles and 27 fumble recoveries. Pat Swilling ranks third with 76½ sacks, including 16½ in 1989 and a league-leading 17 two years later, when he was named Defensive Player of the Year. The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro also is second in team history with 24 forced fumbles. Renaldo Turnbull had 44½ sacks, including 13 in his 1993 All-Pro and Pro Bowl season.
Inside Linebacker: Sam Mills and Vaughn Johnson were both four-time Pro Bowlers and joined Jackson and Swilling as part of the “Dome Patrol.” Mills ranks second with 934 tackles. He had 100 or more five times, with a high of 155 in 1994. Johnson is fourth with 664 tackles. Although he was suspended for the 2012 season for his part in the “Bountygate” scandal, Jonathan Vilma was a two-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl XLIV participant. Joe Federspiel played in 130 games and recovered 10 fumbles.
Cornerback: Dave Waymer, a 1987 Pro Bowler, is the team’s all-time leader with 37 interceptions, with nine coming in 1986. Johnnie Poe had 17 picks, including seven in 1983. Toi Cook had six interceptions in 1992 and 16 overall. Ernie Jackson picked off 15 passes and recovered eight fumbles in six years. Mike McKenzie and Fred Thomas each had 13 interceptions. McKenzie played in Super Bowl XLIV and Thomas recorded 441 tackles in eight years. Marshon Lattimore had five interceptions to earn Pro Bowl and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2017. Eric Allen went to the Pro Bowl in 1995.
Safety: Tom Myers ranks second 36 interceptions, including seven in 1979, when he was named to the Pro Bowl. Sammy Knight is third with 28 picks, with four returned for touchdowns. The 2001 Pro Bowler also registered 561 tackles. Dave Whitsell had 19 interceptions, including a league-leading 10 when he made the Pro Bowl in the club’s inaugural season. Roman Harper was a two-time Pro Bowler who played in Super Bowl XLIV. He also ranks third with 679 tackles and forced 15 fumbles. Gene Atkins had 21 picks, 13 fumble recoveries, and 462 tackles. Like Knight, Brett Maxie started at both safety spots. He returned three of his 15 interceptions for scores and made 438 tackles.
Kicker: Hall of Famer Morten Andersen is the team’s all-time leader with 1,318 points, with nine seasons of 100 or more. He is a six-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. John Carney ranks second with 768 points, including five seasons of 100 or more.
Punter: Thomas Morstead is the team’s all-time leader with 570 punts, 26,746 yards, and a 46.9-yard average. He played in Super Bowl XLIV and made the Pro Bowl in 2012. Tommy Barnhardt (3,743 in 1991) and Tom Blanchard (3,776 in 1975) both led the league in yards. Brian Hanson made the Pro Bowl and the All-Rookie Team in 1984.
Returners: Michael Lewis tops the franchise list with 5,903 kickoff and 1,482 punt return yards. He had four return touchdowns and made the Pro Bowl in 2002, when he led the NFL with 1,807 kickoff and 625 punt return yards. Tyrone Hughes only played four years with the Saints, but he ranks second with 5,717 kick and 1,060 punt return yards, in addition to five scores. He led the NFL with 502 punt return yards in 1993, then topped the league in kick return yards the next three seasons (with totals of 1,556, 1,617 and 1,791). Courtney Roby and Reggie Bush were returners for the team in the 2009 Super Bowl XLIV season. Roby had 1,154 kickoff yards that season, and Bush brought back four punts for scores in five years.
Special Teams: Running back Fred McAfee played 122 games over 10 seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in 2002 and played in the 2006 NFC Championship Game. Reserve defensive back Bennie Thompson made the Pro Bowl in 1991.
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-By: Kevin Rakas