New Orleans Saints: An Emotional History

I wanted to be Danny Abramowicz when I was a kid. If I were a kid today, I'd want to be Marques Colston. Danny was Marques without any speed or size, but lots of heart, skill, and fight. What great players kids get to idolize today. What a long incoming dream it's been.
Saints fans, if you've got any game footage at all from years past, please convert it and put it on the intertubes. There's really very little QUALITY footage floating around. Even recent stuff is often grainy. (NFL Films is letting it all rot in their vaults, rather than opening up and giving back.)
There are so many plays and players I would like to have stuck in this vid, but couldn't. I can still see Conrad Dobler leading a sweep, limping, and wearing a monster cast on his arm, but only in my memory. And Iron Head in the playoffs failing to get a yard on a fourth-and-one against a single Falcon db. Bobby Hebert threading a TD to the only spot it could have been caught. Billy Kilmer going into the endzone, vertical but upside down. Doug Atkins shambling off the field after a loss in front of a kid (me) too shy to ask for an autograph or say, "Great game, Doug."
Anyway, I did what I could given the structure of another great song by Explosions in the Sky. This one's called The Only Moment We Were Alone, off a pretty good album called The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place. Wonderful band if you like instrumental rock. All sounds and sights belong to their originators.
Crank it loud.

[@1stSaintsFan]

I am an OG SAINTS' Fan since I went to my first game in 1967 at the age of 9. Danny Abramowicz 46 was my favorite player during those tough first years and it didn't get much better until Jim Mora's stint as coach. Thank GOD for the Payton/Brees era to soothe my soul.

[@landonisaac1471]

I love the saints no matter what

[@34visciousvideos34]

OG !!

[@GatsDomineaux]

This literally brought tears to my eyes like I'm not even joking. Good job on this fam

[@bitnola]

Doc Soprano Thanks Doc. It can still choke me up too...remembering all those bad old days and then how things turned out recently. Need to get around to a vid for Pierre Thomas. Such a beautiful fighter with a ball in his hands.

[@scumdog3986]

The dome patrol is the reason l became a saints fan. Wish we still had that defense

[@bitnola]

Actually watched that Payton game. Good thing he's got a head for the game, because even against replacement Saints, he couldn't hit his receivers. He was a mess. This vid gets to me too.

[@blueslover97]

one of the best Saints compilations ever, good selections from all eras, and synced well with the music. Payton with the Bears a nice touch

[@gene91671]

This was the best Saints video I have ever seen. Hokie, Hilliard( my favorite), Sean Payton as replacement qb....Wonderful job

[@ianmcgibboney]

Quite possibly my favorite Saints video ever. Perfect choice of song, awesome footage and GREAT use of Sean Payton in the middle! Tears, man.

[@wordogne]

awesome video. some of my best memories as a kid were at the dome with my dad watching hebert, ruben mayes, hilliard, swilling, jackson, mills, johnson, eric martin, alonzo mo hill, the names and the memories will last forever. hoby brenner, van jakes, dave waymer, i could go on a while lol

[@doctorj2u2]

Shadows from my past. They weren't winners like our present day Saints,but I loved them with just as much passion. They were our lovable losers and I was SURE every game they just might win one. Thank you so much for posting this video.

[@jesusvillafrancoperez4104]

I’ve been a fan for as long as this video is old. I am truly blessed and honestly honored to be a fan

[@freeverse7]

It took a long time, but damn it was worth the wait. Thank you Saints!

[@harrymiller9982]

Wow! Great job on the video. I remember that day as a kid at 13 amazed by the opening game in Tulane stadium against the L.A. Rams. So many ups and downs (mostly downs) in those days when you just wanted to give up on them but you just couldn't for hope of better days.

[@leahmae125]

bitnola. Absolutely outstanding video. I remember every moment, probably much like you do. From Gilliam, to Archie, to the Dome Patrol and Herbert. Many thanks for developing and posting here. It is great.

[@MikeStanley4]

this is the best saints video ive ever seen. really subtle and brilliant.

[@DrDeath26]

Some of the greatest names in football played for the Saints: Hokie Gajan, Guido Merkins, Dirt Winston, Snake Stabler... and of course they had one of the classic coaches... a guy named Bum!

[@wyattherb23]

Billy Kilmer was another Great better than Archie my dad always told me and he would know...his name was Doug Wyatt

[@ElitesRshady]

Amazing video man, got chills and choked up a bit. WHO DAT BABY GEUAX SAINTS

[@5StarFilmz]

Great video. DUECE was the bridge from the bad saints to the elite saints...he willed us to greatness. All of the Payton era saints are special because they are the first to do it in history. The first to show the world the Saints can be winners. No one can ever take that away from any of them...Bush to horn..stallworth..Henderson...shockey. .Charles Grant..will smith... Roman harper... Norman hand...Darren sharper..and howard...brooks too...

[@Ariamaluum]

I admired the play of Aaron Brooks during his years there. He had that Saints charm of light and dark.

[@KratosM4000]

I’m new to football and when looking at what team I wanted to call mine I decided to choose the saints because I remember as a kid watching them win the Super Bowl and it stuck with me for some reason. Even though it is 13 years old great video for a new fan!

[@christianoff2648]

Happy Birthday New Orleans Saints!!!!

[@TygerShumate]

Amazing song to use, Explosions in the Sky. Fits perfectly, very awesome video.

[@tonybigmac1]

As a lifelong Saints fan, this brings back many great memories. Very emotional. I also do video editing, and can appreciate the hard work and effort you put into this. Great music choice, and awesome choreography with the video and music! Thank you for you for this great video!

[@bitnola]

Thank you. I did work a little harder on this one. And I remember all those guys. It was so insane to root so hard and be so disappointed year after year, and still believe that next year would finally be the year. Still love all those guys. Finally, as I get old they figure it all out and get the great players we have. Beautiful thing. Just beautiful. Like they're connected to all that went before, and have come to reward our faith.

[@headlightbandit8618]

An emotional history... What a most fitting title Now imagine it's 2022 and after all the moments in the film we can add our many new heartbreaks, and all the what ifs and the No Call. And now no Brees and after today no Payton. Where do we go from here??? 😑

[@jcoolguy1548]

Up. No where to go but up

[@lesliekorshak]

thanks - this is wonderful!!!

[@algcutdog]

greatest vid of all time.

[@radarlove007]

Loved it!

[@cynicalMusic21]

This is just beautiful, man. Thank you for posting it. Who. Dat.

[@bitnola]

Me too, GreatMawMaw. Watching the old plays especially reminds me how it felt to believe in guys and teams that had no real chance to get into the playoffs. Yet we still believed. As if we knew others would come to fill their shoes and do better and fulfill their promise and our love, which was ready and waiting for them.

[@HTPSY]

Black 'n' Gold 4ever! Who Dat! Until i die i will support the Saints!

[@Iluvbisquits]

Aaron Brooks is Aaron Brooks, but that moment when Kyle Turley stuck up for him against the Jets is pretty freakin' awesome...WHO DAT?!

[@MissMaddy881]

I love this! WHO DAT!!!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@bgoat97]

Awesome video

[@GreatMawMaw]

love it!

[@bitnola]

Thanks. Dalton ran like he was made of granite. Wish he had lasted a little longer. Pierre Thomas, while not an every-down back, has developed into a fine runner. Always finishes with a little extra move. Love the effort from that man.

[@bitnola]

Have faith my friend. The other teams still have to outscore our offense, and I think Spagnola will demand more toughness from the D. But it might be good for them to struggle a bit next year, so long as they get after it when the playoffs come. I look for a great season next year. A memorable one, whatever happens. Won't it be perfect to see them in the Dome in the final game of the season taking the trophy in front of Goodell.

[@gcrebel2008]

Believe Dat!

[@bitnola]

@whistlemonster1 Thanks for the kind words. I was amazed at how little footage is available, even for recent years. NFL films is sitting on such a hoard. Imagine what talented video people could do if they just opened the vault.

[@bitnola]

@blueslover97 thanks a bunch. Kinda sad though that so little good footage is available, but happy for what IS there.

[@goatbees]

Well done!

[@majorkevlin9417]

This is completely amazingnow im a as big of a saints fan as i am a pats fan but i do love the saints and i am a big fan watching is just beutie and from about 6:10-6:50 makes me want to tear a bit in my mind greatest game in saint history and steve gleasons block greatest play in thier history even through the super bowl i remember watching tht game and that could be the top game of the decade i love watching the block and inaround to henderson just amazing...

[@thattruckerwes8072]

Let’s go Saints 2019 let’s make that run

[@fuccdemhaterscuz101]

I Met Danny, Hes Such an Amazing Guy and hes so Nice....Hes filled his soul with God now :D

[@dakliq420]

Saints fan since Mora. Who Dat!

[@gene1116]

I agree with you they are our team

[@linkfan2015]

very good video. music adds so much effect. love it! btw, what is the name of this song?

[@kirbyfan1996]

Complete coverage of everything a Saints fan should know. Who Dat?

[@bobbyburnstein8]

Explosions in the sky have the best football music

[@EricTheBroBean]

Wow, what a great video.. WHO DAT..!!

[@MrDirtnasty911]

In the 90's we could has made major runs in the playoffs especially around the 1991 season. The problem lied at Quarterback. We ha the Defense and we have a good O line. The receivers were about what we have now minus jimmy graham and are running back was tough. If we had say Archie instead of Bobby Hebert we would have won a championship no question

[@sshoppershopahall76]

MrDirtnasty911 true

[@SomeoneElse12345]

We weren’t going anywhere with Carl Smith calling plays

[@bitnola]

@whistlemonster1 Yeah, I missed the Hakim punt muff too. I was shaving video off just to get what I had to fit the song. Ditka certainly belonged. So did Bum, and lots of other players. Damn, there's so much history and clips, you just got to let it fly or go nuts. Glad you liked it overall.

[@ryanross3322]

Those reggie bush days are some good times

[@xxFam3xx]

Love the song and video. What's the name of the somg

[@mattslay9407]

There was a similar band from BR for a while named Always the Runner.

[@bitnola]

@soundchaser0 Great game to come to N.O. for! The Dome will be rocking. Wish I could go. I'm away from La. too, but at least success breeds more TV games. Enjoy the town. Two Dat begins that night!

[@bitnola]

@doctorj2u2 I was always sure they had a chance too. Always tore me up when they lost. You'd see them play well for a game or two and wonder why they couldn't rise up to that level all the time. Too young to know why, then. So thankful now.

[@bitnola]

@freeverse7 Imagine if Sean Payton took the Green Bay job. We'd all be suffering along with yet another so-so coach and team. Wins here and there, but no ultimate satisfaction. Now we know what total victory can feel like in at least one corner of our hearts. Yeah, thanks Saints. We begin a new day after such an agonizing history.

[@bitnola]

Just one of those awful plays in Saints history. A really incredible one during the Haslett years. Nothing to do with the SB playoff run that began with the Cards. Brooks nearly got his head removed, and big Kyle Turley decided he'd do something about it. Controversial reaction back then, drew a big penalty, killed the drive, killed the playoff possibilities. But I can't blame him. Wiki Turley and you'll find the full story of the play.

[@bitnola]

You're welcome, and thanks for the kind words. Who Dat, indeed! Next season is gonna be more than just another season.

[@SuperNolaSaints]

What was the part with the saints and the jets right before the saints versus cardinals?

[@Kbroussard567]

Who dat go saints!!!!!!

[@bitnola]

@fuccdemhaterscuz101 Glad to hear he's found some peace. I understand he had some problems a while back. He's the first receiver who made me see what a professional does when I was a kid.

[@bitnola]

Hard to ignore the "warts and all." Can't wait till next year when the media will talk endlessly about bounty-gate while the Saints are doing their thing on the field. They got their feel-good story in 09 but seem unwilling to admit that this is a great team. Guess it'll take another SB win. Let's get it next year and show them.

[@bitnola]

@kmaze1204 Horn was a hot dog, but a really good receiver too. Hated to see him in a Falcons uniform at the end. At least he wasn't as crazy as a couple of Bengals receivers are.

[@740jakester]

can anyone tell me what the song is called so i can download it? and i am a die hard saints fan who dat!

[@bitnola]

@linkfan2015 The Only Moment We Were Alone by Explosions in the Sky (see the description under the video. Very moving tunes from a band that only does instrumentals, no lyrics)

[@TheLouisianan]

Ace Deuce and plenty of use McAllister

[@Geauxsaints93]

two words, DOME PATROL

[@brucelee5576]

I swear 85-87 teams were lacking cornebacks if not they would have won rings.

[@andrewnguyen9712]

Me in 1997 when we were still called the aints

[@bitnola]

@aja3787 Details are below the video. From a pretty good album by Explosions in the Sky. There's also an outstanding live version of this song, The Only Moment We Were Alone, here in the youtubes. They really rip it up at the end of the vid.

[@bitnola]

@ivantheterrible60 Next season could be very good, but it depends upon Payton and the choices he makes on old and new players. Have to have more reliable weapons around Brees, and the D still needs more powerful studs on the line and at linebacker. Not many new faces needed but definitely a few playmakers on both sides of the ball. Rookies or free agents, either way, or both.

[@33911973]

whodat baby

[@bitnola]

@kmaze1204 I miss them too, and wish they could have enjoyed this kind of Saints success when they played. Damn Mora and his conservative offense.... I loved the way Dalton ran--wish Pierre Thomas was as durable. Like him a lot too because he has the desire and willingness to fight for yards, just gets hurt too much.

[@andrewnguyen9712]

DEVERY HEANDERSON THE FORMER LSU TIGER TOUCHDOWN

[@justinharrison587]

6:31 rebirth Steve Gleason. Who Dat #nowhiteflags

[@bignic26]

Awesome but where is Hakin dropped the ball? Where are the Dark Ditka years? We had some great Saints on those teams like Willie Roaf and Laroi Glover. Ricky Williams is not a great Saint but he's a big part of our history. Maybe you were just trying to foregt those years, lol.

[@andrewnguyen9712]

PUNT BLOCK BY STEVE GLESON IN THE SCOOP TOUCHODWN NEW ORLEANS

[@jeremiahbanks1347]

go saint s

[@Pookaman180]

i love the saints im from gonzales BUT I HATE THOSE DAMN FALCONS!!!!!!

[@brucelee5576]

4:15 Sean Payton #17

[@chinodelchicano8332]

Voodoo curses them bad just like Bengals and Brown's

[@bitnola]

@pedrowolcott26 Amen, brother!

[@Pookaman180]

@bitnola lol go saints

[@Ayzyy]

@voteablej same

[@bitnola]

@Pookaman180 Me too, Pook. If we beat the falcons twice this year, I'm going to do a video just on them. Gonna try to link the dirty birds to the awful birds in the terrible cult movie, Birdemic: one of the worst movies ever made.

[@bitnola]

@WHODATNATION1985 This one still gets to me too, and I'm probably about your mom's age. There's more to come from Peyton and Brees and the boys. Count on it.

[@elgrandepouger7052]

who dat

[@bitnola]

Yeah, Hakim got cut so I could cram in other stuff just to fit the song and time limit. The others just aren't there. Amazing lack of available footage right through to 2000. But the Archie years were the darkest to me. Such talent and no team around him till near his end, but no defense. John Mecom was a turd.

[@sensibleadult]

Why can't the Saints get the throwback uniforms right? The gold is never the right shade. The pant stripes aren't the same. And I wish they'd do away with the wide black pant stripe on the current uniform. The two black and one white looks much better. And don't wear black pants without the stripes. Finally, the all black uniforms look thuggish. Lose them, please.

[@wyattherb23]

Billy Kilmer was another Great better than Archie my dad always told me and he would know...his name was Doug Wyatt

[@MafiaKingfishNOLA]

Doug Wyatt? He was on the team back in the early 70's I believe. I bet he's got some great stories.

[@JohnHoulgate]

Ah yes, the glory plays of the Ain'ts - Just kidding.

[@swampsaint5782]

Wow...8 years and 0 likes 😂

[@ziggymorris8760]

No one cared about the saints until they won something. This team always sucked so badly they were the “AINTS”