1967 New Orleans Saints season

NFL team 1st season

The 1967 New Orleans Saints season was the inaugural season for the franchise. The team went 3–11, finishing in last place in the four-team NFL Eastern Conference Capitol Division.

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, a native of Baton Rouge and an All-American at LSU. Taylor had felt underpaid and under-appreciated under Lombardi.[2] An examination at the Scripps Clinic in California found the severing of the fifth, sixth, and seventh vertebrae, and damaged nerve roots in the spinal cord of Hornung. It was decided that Hornung would retire and he never played a game for the Saints.[2]

NFL draft

The Saints committed a colossal blunder by trading the first overall selection to the Baltimore Colts for Gary Cuozzo, the backup quarterback to Johnny Unitas. Cuozzo began the season as the Saints' starter, but lost the job to expansion draftee Billy Kilmer. Cuozzo was traded to the Minnesota Vikings early in 1968.

Baltimore selected Michigan State All-America defensive end Bubba Smith with the first pick. Smith became a star for the Colts, starting at left end for their Super Bowl III and Super Bowl V teams.

1967 New Orleans Saints draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 1 –  – – Selection traded to Baltimore Colts
1 26 Les Kelley  HB Alabama
2 27 Bo Burris  QB-S Houston
2 52 John Gilliam *  FL South Carolina State
2 53 Dave Rowe  OT Penn State
3 54 –  – – Selection traded to Baltimore Colts
3 79 Del Williams  C-G Florida State
3 80 Ben Hart  SE Oklahoma
4 81 Ron Widby *  P Tennessee
4 106 Bill Carr  C Florida
4 107 Tom Stangle  E Dayton
5 108 Don McCall  HB Southern California
5 133 John Douglas  DB Texas Southern
6 134 George Harvey  G Kansas
6 159 Bo Wood  LB North Carolina
7 160 Gary Hertzog  G Willamette
7 185 Bob McKelvey  FB-LB Northwestern
8 186 Sam Harris  TE Colorado
8 211 Barry Siler  LB Albion College
9 212 Tim Lavens  TE Idaho
9 237 Eugene Ross  DB Oklahoma
10 238 Charlie Brown  FL-SE Missouri
10 263 Roosevelt Robertson  FL North Carolina College
11 264 Jim Benson  G Florida State
11 288 Bernard Corbin  S Alabama A&M
12 289 Ronnie Pack  G Texas Tech
12 315 John Robinson  FL Tennessee A&I
13 316 Bill Stetz  LB Boston College
13 341 Gary Grossnickle  S Missouri
14 342 Jim Hester  TE North Dakota
14 367 George Stetter  DB Virginia
15 368 John Snow  OT Wake Forest
15 393 Darrell Johnson  RB Lamar Tech
16 394 Marcus Rhoden  FL-SE Mississippi State
16 419 Bruce Cortez  DB Parsons College
17 420 Danny Abramowicz  SE Xavier (Ohio)
17 438 Billy Bob Stewart  FB-LB Southern Methodist Selection acquired from Baltimore Colts
17 445 Jimmy Walker  DB-FL Providence
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1967 New Orleans Saints staff

Front office

  • President – John Mecom Jr.
  • Executive Vice-President / general manager – Bert Rose
  • Director of Player Personnel – Vic Schwenk
  • Director of Player Relations – George Owen
  • Director of Promotions and Special Events – Bill Smythe
  • Director of Public Relations – Donald Smith
    • Public Relations Assistant – Patricia Cross
    • Public Relations Consultant – Jim Hall
  • Business Manager – Carroll Martin
  • College Scouting –
    • North Central Area Scout – Dave Smith
    • Northeastern Area Scout – Ray Masters
    • South Central Area Scout – Al Tabor
    • Southeastern Area Scout – Henry Lee Parker
    • Western Area Scout – Ray Newman
  • Comptroller – Cyril Nelson
  • Entertainment Director – Tommy Walker
  • Ticket Manager – Henry Simoneaux

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches


Strength and conditioning

  • Trainer – Fred Peterson
    • Assistant trainer – Bill Cuthbertson
  • Equipment manager – Charlie Shepherd
    • Assistant Equipment Manager – Wallace Brown

Roster

1967 New Orleans Saints final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Taxi squad
n/a
Rookies in italics
 , 0 taxi squad

Pre-season

The Saints played six pre-season games, finishing with a record of 5–1.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 August 2 at Los Angeles Rams L 7–16 0–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 26,364
2 August 12 St. Louis Cardinals W 23–14 1–1 State Fair Stadium 25,500
3 August 19 Pittsburgh Steelers W 20–17 2–1 Tiger Stadium 35,000
4 August 26 vs. San Francisco 49ers W 24–10 3–1 Civic Stadium 23,348
5 September 2 vs. Miami Dolphins W 20–17 4–1 Johnson Hagood Stadium 11,214
6 September 9 Atlanta Falcons W 27–14 5–1 Tulane Stadium 67,486

Regular season

Things couldn't have looked better for the Saints and their inaugural season. A 5–1 preseason record was followed by a 94-yard kickoff 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 jinxing the Saints for their first 20 years of existence). 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[3] 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 led 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 led the team as well as the NFL in interceptions with 10 steals—still a New Orleans Saint season record.

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 17 Los Angeles Rams L 13–27 0–1 Tulane Stadium 80,879
2 September 24 Washington Redskins L 10–30 0–2 Tulane Stadium 74,937
3 October 1 Cleveland Browns L 7–42 0–3 Tulane Stadium 77,045
4 October 8 at New York Giants L 21–27 0–4 Yankee Stadium 62,670
5 October 15 at Dallas Cowboys L 10–14 0–5 Cotton Bowl 64,128
6 October 22 at San Francisco 49ers L 13–27 0–6 Kezar Stadium 34,285
7 October 29 Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–14 0–7 Tulane Stadium 68,911
8 November 5 Philadelphia Eagles W 31–24 1–7 Tulane Stadium 59,596
9 November 12 Dallas Cowboys L 10–27 1–8 Tulane Stadium 83,437
10 November 19 at Philadelphia Eagles L 21–48 1–9 Franklin Field 60,751
11 November 26 Atlanta Falcons W 27–24 2–9 Tulane Stadium 83,437
12 December 3 at St. Louis Cardinals L 20–31 2–10 Busch Memorial Stadium 41,171
13 December 10 at Baltimore Colts L 10–30 2–11 Memorial Stadium 60,238
14 December 17 at Washington Redskins W 30–14 3–11 District of Columbia Stadium 50,486
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams

1 234Total
• Rams 3 1077 27
Saints 7 330 13
  • Date: Sunday, September 17
  • Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 80,879
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C), relative humidity 66%, wind 7 mph (11 km/h)
  • Source: [1]
Scoring summary
1NOJohn Gilliam 94-yard kickoff return (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 7–0
1LABruce Gossett 10-yard field goalNO 7–3
2LABruce Gossett 21-yard field goalNO 7–6
2NOCharlie Durkee 44-yard field goalNO 10–6
2LARoman Gabriel 2-yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)LA 13–10
3NOCharlie Durkee 25-yard field goalTied 13–13
3LADick Bass 13-yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)LA 20–13
4LALes Josephson 15-yard pass from Roman Gabriel (Bruce Gossett kick)LA 27–13

Week 2: vs. Washington Redskins

1 234Total
• Redskins 6 14010 30
Saints 3 700 10
  • Date: Sunday, September 24
  • Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 74,937
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), relative humidity 63%, wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
  • Source: [2]
Scoring summary
1WASRay McDonald 1-yard rushWAS 6–0
1NOCharlie Durkee 27-yard field goalWAS 6–3
2NOWalter Roberts 36-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 10–6
2WASRay McDonald 36-yard rush (John Love kick)WAS 13–10
2WASCharley Taylor 40-yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (John Love kick)WAS 20–10
4WASRay McDonald 15-yard rush (John Love kick)WAS 27–10
4WASJohn Love 37-yard field goalWAS 30–10

Week 3: vs. Cleveland Browns

1 234Total
• Browns 7 71414 42
Saints 0 700 7
  • Date: Sunday, October 1
  • Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 77,045
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), relative humidity 68%, wind 8 mph (13 km/h)
  • Source: [3]
Scoring summary
1CLEPaul Warfield 18-yard pass from Frank Ryan (Lou Groza kick)CLE 7–0
2NOJim Taylor 2-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)Tied 7–7
2CLEErnie Green 41-yard pass from Frank Ryan (Lou Groza kick)CLE 14–7
3CLELeroy Kelly 1-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)CLE 21–7
3CLEErnie Green 2-yard rush (Lou Groza kick)CLE 28–0
4CLEPaul Warfield 49-yard pass from Frank Ryan (Lou Groza kick)CLE 35–7
4CLERalph Smith offensive fumble recovery in end zone (Lou Groza kick)CLE 42–7

Week 4: at New York Giants

1 234Total
Saints 7 770 21
• Giants 7 767 27
  • Date: Sunday, October 8
  • Location: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. ET
  • Game attendance: 62,670
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), relative humidity 60%, wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
  • Source: [4]
Scoring summary
1NYErnie Koy 1-yard rush (Les Murdock kick)NY 7–0
1NODanny Abramowicz 13-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick)Tied 7–7
2NOGary Cuozzo 1-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 14–7
2NYTucker Frederickson 2-yard rush (Les Murdock kick)Tied 14–14
3NYHomer Jones 34-yard pass from Fran TarkentonNY 20–14
3NOJohn Gilliam 19-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 21–20
4NYBobby Crespino 11-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Wendell Harris kick)NY 27–21

Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys

1 234Total
Saints 0 730 10
• Cowboys 7 700 14
  • Date: Sunday, October 15
  • Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
  • Game start: 1:35 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 64,128
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), relative humidity 83%, wind 13 mph (21 km/h)
  • Source: [5]
Scoring summary
1DALDon Perkins 2-yard rush (Danny Villanueva kick)DAL 7–0
2NODave Whitsell 26-yard interception return (Charlie Durkee kick)Tied 7–7
2DALLance Rentzel 20-yard pass from Craig Morton (Danny Villanueva kick)DAL 14–7
3NOCharlie Durkee 47-yard field goalDAL 14–10

Week 6: at San Francisco 49ers

1 234Total
Saints 0 670 13
• 49ers 3 7710 27
  • Date: Sunday, October 22
  • Location: Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. PT
  • Game attendance: 34,285
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), relative humidity 87%, wind 11 mph (18 km/h)
  • Source: [6]
Scoring summary
1SFTommy Davis 50-yard field goalSF 3–0
2NOCharlie Durkee 39-yard field goalTied 3–3
2NOCharlie Durkee 34-yard field goalNO 6–3
2SFBob Windsor 2-yard pass from John Brodie (Tommy Davis kick)SF 10–6
3NOWalter Roberts 47-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 13–10
3SFDick Witcher 15-yard pass from John Brodie (Tommy Davis kick)SF 17–13
4SFTommy Davis 39-yard field goalSF 20–13
4SFKen Willard 2-yard rush (Tommy Davis kick)SF 27–13

Week 7: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

1 234Total
• Steelers 0 0014 14
Saints 3 700 10
  • Date: Sunday, October 29
  • Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 68,911
  • Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), relative humidity 75%, wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
  • Source: [7]
Scoring summary
1NOCharlie Durkee 37-yard field goalNO 3–0
2NOJim Taylor 2-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 10–0
4PITJ.R. Wilburn 5-yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Mike Clark kick)NO 10–7
4PITDon Shy 33-yard rush (Mike Clark kick)PIT 14–10

Week 8: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

1 234Total
Eagles 0 10014 24
• Saints 7 7107 31
  • Date: Sunday, November 5
  • Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 59,596
  • Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), relative humidity 61%, wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
  • Source: [8]
Scoring summary
1NOWalter Roberts 91-yard kickoff return (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 7–0
2NOWalter Roberts 27-yard offensive fumble return (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 14–0
2PHISam Baker 41-yard field goalNO 14–3
2PHIJim Kelly 22-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick)NO 14–10
3NOCharlie Durkee 12-yard field goalNO 17–10
3NODave Whitsell 41-yard interception return (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 24–10
4PHIGary Ballman 14-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick)NO 24–17
4NOWalter Roberts 49-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 31–17
4PHITimmy Brown 33-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick)NO 31–24

Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys

1 234Total
• Cowboys 7 7103 27
Saints 7 030 10
  • Date: Sunday, November 12
  • Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 83,437
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C), relative humidity 88%, wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
  • Source: [9]
Scoring summary
1NODanny Abramowicz 9-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 7–0
1DALDon Perkins 14-yard rush (Danny Villanueva kick)Tied 7–7
2DALDan Reeves 5-yard rush (Danny Villanueva kick)DAL 14–7
3NOCharlie Durkee 11-yard field goalDAL 14–10
3DALDanny Villanueva 21-yard field goalDAL 17–10
3DALFrank Clarke 56-yard rush (Danny Villanueva kick)DAL 24–10
4DALDanny Villanueva 12-yard field goalDAL 27–10

Week 10: at Philadelphia Eagles

1 234Total
Saints 0 7014 21
• Eagles 3 28107 48
  • Source: [10]
Scoring summary
1PHISam Baker 21-yard field goalPHI 3–0
2PHIBen Hawkins 10-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick)PHI 10–0
2NODanny Abramowicz 22-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick)PHI 10–7
2PHITom Woodeshick 5-yard rush (Sam Baker kick)PHI 17–7
2PHIJim Kelly 35-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick)PHI 24–7
2PHITom Woodeshick 13-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick)PHI 31–7
3PHIBen Hawkins 19-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick)PHI 38–7
3PHISam Baker 37-yard field goalPHI 41–7
4PHIIzzy Lang 15-yard pass from King Hill (Sam Baker kick)PHI 48–7
4NODon McCall 11-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick)PHI 48–14
4NODanny Abramowicz 1-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Ted Davis kick)PHI 48–21

Week 11: vs. Atlanta Falcons

1 234Total
Falcons 0 2103 24
• Saints 3 7710 27
  • Date: Sunday, November 26
  • Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 83,437
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), relative humidity 84%, wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
  • Source: [11]
Scoring summary
1NOCharlie Durkee 34-yard field goalNO 3–0
2ATLJunior Coffey 1-yard rush (Wade Traynham kick)ATL 7–3
2ATLTommy McDonald 32-yard pass from Perry Lee Dunn (Wade Traynham kick)ATL 14–3
2ATLBilly Martin 5-yard pass from Randy Johnson (Wade Traynham kick)ATL 21–3
2NOKent Kramer 7-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick)ATL 21–10
3NORandy Schultz 22-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)ATL 21–17
4NOCharlie Durkee 32-yard field goalATL 21–20
4ATLWade Traynham 26-yard field goalATL 24–20
4NOKent Kramer 7-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 27–24

Week 12: at St. Louis Cardinals

1 234Total
Saints 3 377 20
• Cardinals 7 01014 31
  • Date: Sunday, December 3
  • Location: Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. CT
  • Game attendance: 41,171
  • Game weather: 34 °F (1 °C), relative humidity 87%, wind 16 mph (26 km/h), wind chill 24
  • Source: [12]
Scoring summary
1NOCharlie Durkee 41-yard field goalNO 3–0
1STLJohnny Roland 54-yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)STL 7–3
2NOCharlie Durkee 16-yard field goalSTL 7–6
3STLJackie Smith 20-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick)STL 14–6
3NOBilly Kilmer 1-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)STL 14–13
3STLJim Bakken 27-yard field goalSTL 17–13
4STLPrentice Gautt 19-yard rush (Jim Bakken kick)STL 24–13
4STLJackie Smith 76-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken)STL 31–13
4NOCharlie Brown 4-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)STL 31–20

Week 13: at Baltimore Colts

1 234Total
Saints 0 0100 10
• Colts 7 10310 30
  • Date: Sunday, December 10
  • Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Game start: 2:05 p.m. ET
  • Game attendance: 60,238
  • Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 14 mph (23 km/h)
  • Source: [13]
Scoring summary
1BALTony Lorick 1-yard rush (Lou Michaels kick)BAL 7–0
2BALLou Michaels 35-yard field goalBAL 10–0
2BALTom Matte 2-yard rush (Lou Michaels kick)BAL 17–0
3NOCharlie Durkee 35-yard field goalBAL 17–3
3BALLou Michaels 21-yard field goalBAL 20–3
3NOCharlie Brown 5-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)BAL 20–10
4BALLou Michaels 17-yard field goalBAL 23–10
4BALJerry Hill 1-yard rush (Lou Michaels kick)BAL 30–10

Week 14: at Washington Redskins

1 234Total
• Saints 0 7914 30
Redskins 0 077 14
  • Source: [14]
Scoring summary
2NODanny Abramowicz 80-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 7–0
3WASCharley Taylor 6-yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (Bruce Alford kick)Tied 7–7
3NOSafety; John Love tackled in end zone by Dick AndersonNO 9–7
3NORandy Schultz 1-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 16–7
4NODanny Abramowicz 13-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 23–7
4WASA. D. Whitfield 23-yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (Bruce Alford kick)NO 23–14
4NODon McCall 49-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick)NO 30–14

Standings

NFL Capitol
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 W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Dallas Cowboys 9 5 0 .643 4–2 8–2 342 268 L1
Philadelphia Eagles 6 7 1 .462 3–2–1 5–4–1 351 409 W1
Washington Redskins 5 6 3 .455 2–3–1 4–5–1 347 353 L1
New Orleans Saints 3 11 0 .214 2–4 2–8 233 379 W1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

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
  3. ^ "NFL Players | Past & Current NFL Players".

External links

  • New Orleans Saints History
  • Saints on Pro Football Reference
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New Orleans Saints 1967 inaugural season roster