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] The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
| 1970 New Orleans Saints season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | John W. Mecom, Jr. |
| General manager | Vic Schwenk |
| Head coach | Tom Fears and J. D. Roberts |
| Home field | Tulane Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 2–11–1 |
| Division place | 4th NFC West |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | None |
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 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; it broke the record held by Bert Rechichar of the Baltimore Colts by seven yards, set seventeen years earlier.[2][3] 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.
Offseason
NFL draft
| 1970 New Orleans Saints draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||||
Personnel
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
|
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
| Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
| Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
| Reserve lists
| ||||||
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 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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!