1980 New Orleans Saints season

Season summary

Disgruntled fans called their team “the Aints”, going so far as to show up to games wearing brown paper bags over their heads after their team was 0–12 and playing the Los Angeles Rams, to whom they lost 27–7 on Monday Night Football. In embarrassment, they called themselves the Unknown Fan (a spinoff from The Unknown Comic) in a practice that would become the trademark of disgruntled fans across various sports in the United States. Coach Dick Nolan was fired after this game, and replaced by Dick Stanfel. In Week 14, playing the San Francisco 49ers in Candlestick Park, the Saints charged out to a 35–7 lead at halftime, led by three touchdown passes from Archie Manning and a pair of one-yard touchdown runs from Jack Holmes. However, the 49ers rallied behind quarterback Joe Montana, who rushed for a touchdown and passed for two more. The 49ers tied the game 35–35 on a fourth-quarter touchdown run by Lenvil Elliott and went on to win in overtime, 38–35, on a Ray Wersching field goal. The 28-point comeback by the 49ers was, at the time, the largest comeback in NFL history, and was the largest comeback in regular season history until it was eclipsed in 2022 by the Minnesota Vikings, who rallied from a 33-0 halftime deficit vs. the Indianapolis Colts to win 39–36 in overtime.

After equaling the 1976 Buccaneers’ record single-season 14-game losing streak and looking likely to become the first team to finish 0–16 when down 7–13 after three quarters against the New York Jets on a day of 46 mph winds and a wind chill-adjusted temperature of 5 F, quarterback Archie Manning threw a touchdown pass into the gale to Tony Galbreath to go ahead 14–13 and then another to win 21–20.

The 2013 Houston Texans matched the 14 game losing streak of both the 1980 Saints and the 1976 Buccaneers after starting 2–0.

The 1980 Saints were the first team to end the season at 1–15.

The 1989 Dallas Cowboys, 1990 New England Patriots, 1991 Indianapolis Colts, 1996 New York Jets, 2000 San Diego Chargers, 2001 Carolina Panthers, 2007 Miami Dolphins, 2009 St. Louis Rams, 2016 Cleveland Browns, and 2020 Jacksonville Jaguars later matched the 1980 Saints by finishing 1–15, but the 2008 Detroit Lions and 2017 Cleveland Browns both exceeded it by finishing with an 0–16 record. The 1991 Colts (vs. Jets) and 2000 Chargers (vs. Chiefs) also won their lone games by a single point.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1980 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Personnel

Staff

• President – John W. Mecom, Jr.

• Head Coach – Dick Nolan

• Offensive Coordinator – Ed Hughes

• Quarterbacks/Receivers – Lamar McHan

• Offensive Backfield – Nick Nicolau

• Offensive Line – Dick Stanfel

• Defensive Coordinator – Ed Beard

• Defensive Line – Tom Pratt

• Defensive Backfield – Fred Glick

• Special Teams – Whitey Campbell

• Strength – Lou Riecke

Roster

• Dave Lafary T

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 3 vs Bills

;First quarter

• BUF – Frank Lewis 12-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 7–0. ;Second quarter
• NO – Chuck Muncie 1-yard run (Benny Ricardo kick). Tie 7–7.
• BUF – Joe Cribbs 12-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 14–7.
• NO – Ike Harris 44-yard pass from Archie Manning. Bills 14–13.
• NO – Benny Ricardo 45-yard field goal. Saints 16–14.
• NO – Benny Ricardo 47-yard field goal. Saints 19–14. ;Third quarter
• BUF – Frank Lewis 18-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 21–19. ;Fourth quarter
• BUF – Mark Brammer 2-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 28–19.
• BUF – Joe Cribbs 7-yard run (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Bills 35-19.
• NO – Ike Harris 15-yard pass from Archie Manning (Benny Ricardo kick). Bills 35–26. ;Top passers
• BUF – Joe Ferguson – 22/31, 295 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
• NO – Archie Manning – 24/34, 285 yards, 2 TD ;Top rushers
• BUF – Joe Cribbs – 22 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD
• NO – Chuck Muncie – 10 rushes, 22 yards ;Top receivers
• BUF – Jerry Butler – 5 receptions, 133 yards
• NO – Brooks Williams – 6 receptions, 89 yards

Week 15

This would mark the Saints only win of the 1980 season

Standings

References

References

1. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nor/1980.htm 1980 New Orleans Saints]
2. Finney Jr., Peter; “Saints Near Record”; in ''[[The Bryan Times]]''; December 12, 1980; p. 13
3. Litzky, Frank; “Dick Nolan, 75, N.F.L. Coach and Player, Is Dead”; ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 24, 2007
4. (2009-01-07). "Top 10 greatest comebacks in NFL history". [[National Football League]].
5. “Saints Finally Snare a Victory”; in ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]''; December 15, 1980; p. 7C
6. “Finally: Saints Claim First Victory”; ''[[Palm Beach Post]]''; December 15, 1980; p. 52
7. "1980 New Orleans Saints draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
8. "All-Time Roster". NewOrleansSaints.com.
9. "San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints - September 7th, 1980".
10. "New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears - September 14th, 1980".
11. "Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints - September 21st, 1980".
12. "New Orleans Saints at Miami Dolphins - September 28th, 1980".
13. "St. Louis Cardinals at New Orleans Saints - October 5th, 1980".
14. "New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions - October 12th, 1980".
15. "Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints - October 19th, 1980".
16. "New Orleans Saints at Washington Redskins - October 26th, 1980".
17. "New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams - November 2nd, 1980".
18. "Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints - November 9th, 1980".
19. "New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons - November 16th, 1980".
20. "Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints - November 24th, 1980".
21. "Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints - November 30th, 1980".
22. "New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers - December 7th, 1980".
23. "New Orleans Saints at New York Jets - December 14th, 1980".
24. "New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints - December 21st, 1980".
25. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198012140nyj.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]