1970 New Orleans Saints season: Difference between revisions

1970 New Orleans Saints season
1970 New Orleans Saints season
Owner	John W. Mecom Jr.
General manager	Vic Schwenk
Head coach	Tom Fears (1–5–1); J. D. Roberts (1–6)
Home field	Tulane Stadium
Results
Record	2–11–1
Division place	4th NFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	None
	← 1969; Saints seasons; 1971 →;

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The 1970 New Orleans Saints season was the team's fourth as a member of the National Football League. After spending their first three seasons in the NFL's Eastern Conference, the Saints moved in 1970 to the West Division of the new National Football Conference. They failed to improve on their previous season's output of 5–9, winning only two games,^[1] and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

Following a 1–5–1 start, head coach Tom Fears was fired by owner John W. Mecom Jr. and replaced by J.D. Roberts,^[2]^[3]^[4] whose first game was a 19–17 victory over the Detroit Lions at Tulane Stadium in which Tom Dempsey set an NFL record with a 63-yard field goal on the final play;^[5] it broke the record held by Bert Rechichar of the Baltimore Colts by seven yards, set seventeen years earlier.^[6]^[7] Dempsey's record was tied by three: Jason Elam (Denver Broncos, 1998), Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland Raiders, 2011), and David Akers (San Francisco 49ers, 2012). It was broken by Matt Prater of the Broncos in 2013, at 64 yards at elevation in Colorado (Prater's record was broken in 2021 by Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens, who kicked a 66-yard game winner vs. the Lions).

The victory over the Lions was last of the season for the Saints, but both victories came over teams in the thick of the NFC playoff race. The other, a 14–10 triumph over the New York Giants in week three, cost the Giants the NFC East division championship. The Lions qualified for the playoffs as the wild card from the NFC, but were nearly forced into a coin toss with the Dallas Cowboys, a situation which was only averted when the Giants lost their season finale to the Los Angeles Rams.

The Saints' 2–11–1 record was the worst in the NFC and gave them the second overall pick in the 1971 NFL draft; they selected quarterback Archie Manning of Mississippi.

Offseason

NFL draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1970 New Orleans Saints draft
1	10	Ken Burrough *	Wide receiver	Texas Southern
3	62	Clovis Swinney	Defensive tackle	Arkansas State
4	88	Delles Howell	Defensive back	Grambling
5	106	Glenn Cannon	Defensive back	Mississippi
5	126	Steve Ramsey	Quarterback	North Texas State
6	140	Mel Easley	Defensive back	Oregon State
7	166	Lon Woodard	Defensive end	San Diego State
8	192	Larry Estes	Defensive end	Alcorn A&M
9	218	Jim Otis *	Running back	Ohio State
10	244	Jim Brumfield	Running back	Indiana State
11	270	Gary Klahr	Linebacker	Arizona
12	296	Willie Davenport	Defensive back	Southern
13	322	Ralph Miller	Tight end	Alabama State
14	348	Doug Sutherland	Defensive end	Wisconsin-Superior
15	374	Jim Vest	Defensive end	Washington State
16	400	Cliff Gaspar	Defensive tackle	Grambling
17	426	Doug Wyatt	Defensive back	Tulsa
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

^[8]

Personnel

Staff

**1970 New Orleans Saints staff**
	Front office President – John W. Mecom, Jr. General Manager – Vic Schwenk Director of Player Personnel – Jack Faulkner Head coaches Head Coach – Tom Fears (first 7 games) Head Coach – J. D. Roberts (last 7 games) Offensive coaches Offensive Backfield – Don Heinrich Receivers – Billy Ray Barnes Offensive Line – Brad Ecklund (first 7 games) Offensive Line – Jim Royer (last 7 games)			Defensive coaches Defensive Line – Ed Khayat Linebackers – Jerry Smith Defensive Backfield – Ed Biles

^[9]

Roster

**1970 New Orleans Saints roster**
Quarterbacks (QB) 14 Ed Hargett 17 Billy Kilmer 16 Steve Ramsey Running backs (RB) 32 Tom Barrington 36 Dick Davis 36 Vic Nyvall 35 Jim Otis FB 22 Elijah Pitts 39 Ernie Wheelwright Wide receivers (WR) 46 Danny Abramowicz 00 Ken Burrough 25 Al Dodd 47 Bill Dusenbery 30 Bob Shaw Tight ends (TE) 83 Dave Parks 85 Ray Poage		Offensive linemen (OL) 50 Jake Kupp G 70 Errol Linden T 75 Mike Richey T 67 John Shinners G 73 Jerry Sturm C 60 Doug Sutherland G 72 Don Talbert T 77 Mike Taylor T 61 Del Williams G Defensive linemen (DL) 84 Larry Estes DE 89 Dave Long DE 87 Richard Neal DE 76 Dave Rowe DT 79 Clovis Swinney DT 74 Mike Tilleman DT		Linebackers (LB) 53 Dick Absher 82 Johnny Brewer 55 Jackie Burkett 66 Bill Cody 59 Wayne Colman 57 Mike Morgan Defensive backs (DB) 49 Major Hazelton 18 Hugo Hollas SS 20 Delles Howell CB 43 Dicky Lyons 24 Elijah Nevett CB 21 Joe Scarpati FS 23 Doug Wyatt CB Special teams 19 Tom Dempsey K 10 Julian Fagan P		Reserve 38 Tony Baker RB (IR) 48 Andy Livingston RB (IR) Rookies in italics

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 20	Atlanta Falcons	L 3–14	0–1	Tulane Stadium	77,042
2	September 27	at Minnesota Vikings	L 0–26	0–2	Metropolitan Stadium	47,900
3	October 4	New York Giants	W 14–10	1–2	Tulane Stadium	69,126
4	October 11	at St. Louis Cardinals	L 17–24	1–3	Busch Memorial Stadium	45,294
5	October 18	at San Francisco 49ers	T 20–20	1–3–1	Kezar Stadium	39,446
6	October 25	at Atlanta Falcons	L 14–32	1–4–1	Atlanta Stadium	58,850
7	November 1	Los Angeles Rams	L 17–30	1–5–1	Tulane Stadium	77,861
8	November 8	Detroit Lions	W 19–17	2–5–1	Tulane Stadium	66,910
9	November 15	at Miami Dolphins	L 10–21	2–6–1	Miami Orange Bowl	42,866
10	November 22	Denver Broncos	L 6–31	2–7–1	Tulane Stadium	66,837
11	November 29	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 6–26	2–8–1	Riverfront Stadium	59,342
12	December 6	at Los Angeles Rams	L 16–34	2–9–1	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	66,410
13	December 13	San Francisco 49ers	L 27–38	2–10–1	Tulane Stadium	61,940
14	December 20	Chicago Bears	L 3–24	2–11–1	Tulane Stadium	63,518
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFC West
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
San Francisco 49ers	10	3	1	.769	3–2–1	6–3–1	352	267	W3
Los Angeles Rams	9	4	1	.692	4–1–1	7–3–1	325	202	W1
Atlanta Falcons	4	8	2	.333	3–2–1	3–6–2	206	261	L1
New Orleans Saints	2	11	1	.154	0–5–1	2–8–1	172	347	L6

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

Quotes

Al Wester of WWL Radio describes Tom Dempsey's 63-yard field goal against the Detroit Lions.

Here’s the snap. The ball is down. Dempsey's kick is on the way. And...it is good! It’s good! It’s good! The Saints have won! The Saints have won! The stadium is wild. Dempsey is being mobbed. The time has run out, and the Saints have won, 19-17! Dempsey with a 63-yard field goal! The longest field goal in the history of the National League!

Don Criqui describing the same play for CBS:

He's trying a 63-yard field goal. Not only will Tom Dempsey if he hits this one--he has a very slight wind at his back--he'll set a National Football League record, in addition to winning the game. (Dempsey kicks) I don't believe this..."IT'S GOOD! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! THE FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT WAS GOOD FROM 63 YARDS AWAY! It's the incredible! Tulane Stadium has gone wild! A 63-yard field goal!

References

^ 1970 New Orleans Saints
^ "Saints bounce Fears as head coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. November 4, 1970. p. 25.
^ "Fears fired by Saints". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. November 4, 1970. p. 73.
^ "Saints get new coach". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. November 4, 1970. p. 11.
^ "63-yard FG lifts Saints over Lions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. November 9, 1970. p. 25.
^ "Dempsey's 63 yard FG jolts Lions". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. November 9, 1970. p. 1, part 2.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Colts jolt Bears, 13-9, get record 56-yard field goal". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. September 28, 1953. p. 2, part 2.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "1970 New Orleans Saints draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
^ "All-Time Roster". NewOrleansSaints.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.

This article relating to an American football season is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] 1970 New Orleans Saints

[sbfahc-2] "Saints bounce Fears as head coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. November 4, 1970. p. 25.

[ppffbs-3] "Fears fired by Saints". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. November 4, 1970. p. 73.

[sgnc-4] "Saints get new coach". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. November 4, 1970. p. 11.

[lftsts-5] "63-yard FG lifts Saints over Lions". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. November 9, 1970. p. 25.

[dfgwgmms-6] "Dempsey's 63 yard FG jolts Lions". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. November 9, 1970. p. 1, part 2.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[cjbrs-7] "Colts jolt Bears, 13-9, get record 56-yard field goal". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. September 28, 1953. p. 2, part 2.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[8] "1970 New Orleans Saints draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 10, 2014.

[9] "All-Time Roster". NewOrleansSaints.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.

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@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 | record          = 2–11–1
 | division_place  = 4th [[NFC West]]
-| coach           = [[Tom Fears]] and [[J. D. Roberts]]
+| coach           = [[Tom Fears]] (1–5–1)<br>[[J. D. Roberts]] (1–6)
-| general manager = Vic Schwenk
+| general manager = [[Vic Schwenk]]
-| owner           = John W. Mecom, Jr.
+| owner           = [[John W. Mecom Jr.]]
 | stadium         = [[Tulane Stadium]]
 | playoffs        = ''Did not qualify''
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 | shortnavlink    = Saints seasons
 }}
+[[File:New_Orleans_Saints_(1967_-_1999).png|thumb|Logo of New Orleans Saints (1967-1999)]]
+The '''1970 New Orleans Saints season''' was the team's fourth as a member of the [[National Football League]]. After spending their first three seasons in the NFL's [[Eastern and Western Conferences (NFL) 1933–69|Eastern Conference]], the Saints moved in [[1970 NFL season|1970]] to the [[NFC West|West Division]] of the new [[National Football Conference]]. They failed to improve on their [[1969 New Orleans Saints season|previous season]]'s output {{nowrap|of 5–9,}} winning only two games,<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nor/1970.htm 1970 New Orleans Saints]</ref> and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
+Following a 1–5–1 start, head coach [[Tom Fears]] was fired by owner [[John W. Mecom Jr.]] and replaced by [[J.D. Roberts]],<ref name=sbfahc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Aw9ZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zmwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6928%2C458566 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Saints bounce Fears as head coach |date=November 4, 1970 |page=25}}</ref><ref name=ppffbs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HtEbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ilAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5712%2C2353702 |work=Pittsburgh Press |agency=UPI |title=Fears fired by Saints |date=November 4, 1970 |page=73}}</ref><ref name=sgnc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GwBYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DPcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2723%2C5784710 |work=The Bulletin |location=(Bend, Oregon) |agency=UPI |title=Saints get new coach |date=November 4, 1970 |page=11}}</ref> whose first game was a {{nowrap|19–17}} victory over the [[1970 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] at [[Tulane Stadium]] in which [[Tom Dempsey]] set an NFL record with a 63-yard field goal on the final play;<ref name=lftsts>{{cite news |url=
-The '''1970 New Orleans Saints season''' was the team's fourth as a member of the [[National Football League]]. After spending their first three seasons in the NFL's [[Eastern and Western Conferences (NFL) 1933–69|Eastern Conference]], the Saints moved in 1970 to the [[NFC West|West Division]] of the new [[National Football Conference]]. They failed to improve on their [[1969 New Orleans Saints season|previous season]]'s output {{nowrap|of 5–9,}} winning only two games.<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nor/1970.htm 1970 New Orleans Saints]</ref> The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
+https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZNwNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zmwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3374%2C1141089 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=63-yard FG lifts Saints over Lions |date=November 9, 1970 |page=25}}</ref> it broke the record held by [[Bert Rechichar]] of the [[1953 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]] by seven yards, set seventeen years {{nowrap|earlier.<ref name=dfgwgmms>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IJtRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3930%2C1540387 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Dempsey's 63 yard FG jolts Lions |date=November 9, 1970 |page=1, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=cjbrs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E5ExAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OxAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2279%2C3321799 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Colts jolt Bears, 13-9, get record 56-yard field goal |date=September 28, 1953 |page=2, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}} Dempsey's record was tied by three: [[Jason Elam]] ([[1998 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]], {{nfly|1998}}), [[Sebastian Janikowski]] ([[Oakland Raiders]], {{nfly|2011}}), and [[David Akers]] ([[2012 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]], {{nfly|2012}}). {{nowrap|It was}} broken by [[Matt Prater]] of the [[2013 Denver Broncos season|Broncos]] in {{nfly|2013}}, at 64 yards at elevation in [[Colorado]] (Prater's record was broken in {{nfly|2021}} by [[Justin Tucker]] of the [[Baltimore Ravens]], who kicked a 66-yard game winner vs. the Lions).
-Following a 1–5–1 start, coach [[Tom Fears]] was fired by owner John W. Mecom Jr. and replaced by [[J.D. Roberts]], whose first game was a {{nowrap|19–17}} victory over the [[1970 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] at [[Tulane Stadium]] in which [[Tom Dempsey]] set an NFL record with a 63-yard field goal on the final play; it broke the record held by [[Bert Rechichar]] of the [[1953 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]] by seven yards, set seventeen years {{nowrap|earlier.<ref name=dfgwgmms>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IJtRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3930%2C1540387 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Dempsey's 63 yard FG jolts Lions |date=November 9, 1970 |page=1, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=cjbrs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E5ExAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OxAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2279%2C3321799 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Colts jolt Bears, 13-9, get record 56-yard field goal |date=September 28, 1953 |page=2, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}} Dempsey's record was tied by three: [[Jason Elam]] ([[1998 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]], {{nfly|1998}}), [[Sebastian Janikowski]] ([[Oakland Raiders]], {{nfly|2011}}), and [[David Akers]] ([[2012 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]], {{nfly|2012}}). {{nowrap|It was}} broken by [[Matt Prater]] of the [[2013 Denver Broncos season|Broncos]] in {{nfly|2013}}, at 64 yards at elevation in [[Colorado]] (Prater's record was broken in {{nfly|2021}} by [[Justin Tucker]] of the [[Baltimore Ravens]], who kicked a 66-yard game winner vs. the Lions).
 The victory over the Lions was last of the season for the Saints, but both victories came over teams in the thick of the NFC playoff race. The other, a {{nowrap|14–10}} triumph over the [[1970 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] in week three, cost the Giants the NFC East division championship. The Lions qualified for the [[1970–71 NFL playoffs|playoffs]] as the wild card from the NFC, but were nearly forced into a coin toss with the [[1970 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]], a situation which was only averted when the Giants lost their season finale to the [[1970 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]].
+The Saints' 2–11–1 record was the worst in the NFC and gave them the second overall pick in the [[1971 NFL draft]]; they selected quarterback [[Archie Manning]] of [[1970 Ole Miss Rebels football team|Mississippi]].
 == Offseason ==
 === NFL draft ===
 {{main article|1970 NFL draft}}
@@ Line 229: / Line 231: @@
 | running_backs =
-{{NFLplayer|38|Tony Baker|d=running back, born 1945}}
 {{NFLplayer|32|Tom Barrington}}
-{{NFLplayer|36|Dick Davis|d=American football}}
+{{NFLplayer|36|Dick Davis|d=running back}}
-{{NFLplayer|47|Bill Dusenbery|rookie=y}}
+{{NFLplayer|36|Vic Nyvall|rookie=y}}
-{{NFLplayer|48|Andy Livingston}}
 {{NFLplayer|35|Jim Otis|rookie=y|FB}}
 {{NFLplayer|22|Elijah Pitts}}
@@ Line 242: / Line 242: @@
 {{NFLplayer|00|Ken Burrough|rookie=y}}
 {{NFLplayer|25|Al Dodd}}
-{{NFLplayer|85|Ray Poage}}
+{{NFLplayer|47|Bill Dusenbery|rookie=y}}
 {{NFLplayer|30|Bob Shaw|d=wide receiver|rookie=y}}
 | tight_ends =
 {{NFLplayer|83|Dave Parks}}
+{{NFLplayer|85|Ray Poage}}
 | offensive_linemen =
@@ Line 254: / Line 255: @@
 {{NFLplayer|67|John Shinners|G}}
 {{NFLplayer|73|Jerry Sturm|C}}
+{{NFLplayer|60|Doug Sutherland|d=American football|rookie=y|G}}
 {{NFLplayer|72|Don Talbert|T}}
 {{NFLplayer|77|Mike Taylor|d=offensive tackle|T}}
@@ Line 260: / Line 262: @@
 | defensive_linemen =
 {{NFLplayer|84|Larry Estes|rookie=y|DE}}
-{{NFLplayer|89|Dave Long|d=American football|DT}}
+{{NFLplayer|89|Dave Long|d=American football|DE}}
 {{NFLplayer|87|Richard Neal|d=American football|DE}}
 {{NFLplayer|76|Dave Rowe|d=American football|DT}}
-{{NFLplayer|60|Doug Sutherland|d=American football|rookie=y|DT}}
+{{NFLplayer|79|Clovis Swinney|rookie=y|DT}}
 {{NFLplayer|74|Mike Tilleman|DT}}
@@ Line 272: / Line 274: @@
 {{NFLplayer|66|Bill Cody|d=American football}}
 {{NFLplayer|59|Wayne Colman}}
-{{NFLplayer|52|Harry Jacobs|d=American football}}
 {{NFLplayer|57|Mike Morgan|d=linebacker, born 1942}}
-| defensive_backs =
+| defensive_back =
 {{NFLplayer|49|Major Hazelton}}
 {{NFLplayer|18|Hugo Hollas|rookie=y|SS}}
@@ Line 289: / Line 290: @@
 | reserve_lists =
+{{NFLplayer|38|Tony Baker|d=running back, born 1945|RB|IR}}
+{{NFLplayer|48|Andy Livingston|RB|IR}}
 | practice_squad =
@@ Line 346: / Line 349: @@
 ! 6
 | October 25
-| at  '''[[1970 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]]'''
+| at  '''Atlanta Falcons'''
 | '''L''' 14–32
 | 1–4–1
@@ Line 394: / Line 397: @@
 ! 12
 | December 6
-| at '''[[1970 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]'''
+| at '''Los Angeles Rams'''
 | '''L''' 16–34
 | 2–9–1
@@ Line 402: / Line 405: @@
 ! 13
 | December 13
-| '''[[1970 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]'''
+| '''San Francisco 49ers'''
 | '''L''' 27–38
 | 2–10–1

v t e New Orleans Saints
Founded in 1967 Based in New Orleans, Louisiana Headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana
Franchise	Franchise Seasons History All-time roster Coaches Expansion draft First-round draft picks Starting quarterbacks Broadcasters
Stadiums	Tulane Stadium Caesars Superdome Temporary home venues in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina: Alamodome Giants Stadium Tiger Stadium
Culture	Gumbo Sir Saint Saints Cheer Krewe Who Dat? Tom Benson Effect of Hurricane Katrina Buddy D "When the Saints Go Marching In" Home Team Number One A Saintly Switch
Lore	"Aints" (1–15) Dempsey's 63-yard field goal Dome Patrol Ricky Williams trade River City Relay Steve Gleason's blocked punt Beast Quake Bountygate Minneapolis Miracle NOLA No-Call
Rivalries	Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers Los Angeles Rams Minnesota Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wild card berths (5)	1987 1990 1992 2010 2013
Division championships (9)	1991 2000 2006 2009 2011 2017 2018 2019 2020
Conference championships (1)	2009
League championships (1)	2009 (XLIV)
Retired numbers	31 81
Ring of Honor	Andersen Benson Jackson Manning Mills Roaf Smith
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: South Division