1980 New Orleans Saints season

The 1980 New Orleans Saints season was the team's 14th as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The Saints failed to improve on the previous season's record of 8–8, instead winning only one game.^[1] The team missed the playoffs for the fourteenth consecutive season and had the dubious distinction not only of winning only a single game, but winning it by a single point against the New York Jets, who like the Saints had widely been predicted before the season to advance to the playoffs, but struggled instead. The main culprit of the Saints' collapse was the defense, which ranked last in yards and points (487) allowed.^[2]

1980 New Orleans Saints season
General manager	Steve Rosenbloom
Head coach	Dick Nolan Dick Stanfel
Home field	Louisiana Superdome
Results
Record	1–15
Division place	4th NFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	None
← 1979 Saints seasons 1981 →

Archie Manning attempting a pass for the Saints during a game against the Los Angeles Rams in 1980.

The team's only bright spot was tenth-year quarterback Archie Manning, who proceeded to have the best year of his career, throwing for 3,716 yards, 23 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

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^[3] 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,^[3] 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.^{[4][better source needed]}

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 miles per hour (74 km/h) winds and a wind chill-adjusted temperature of 5 °F (−15 °C),^[5] 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.^[6]

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.^{[citation needed]}

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

1980 New Orleans Saints draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	12	Stan Brock	Offensive tackle	Colorado
2	41	Dave Waymer *	Safety	Notre Dame
4	96	Mike Jolly	Cornerback	Michigan
6	150	Lester Boyd	Linebacker	Kentucky
7	177	Mike Morucci	Running back	Bloomsburg
8	206	Chuck Evans	Linebacker	Stanford
9	233	Frank Mordica	Running back	Vanderbilt
10	262	Tanya Webb	Defensive end	Michigan State
11	289	George Woodard	Running back	Texas A&M
12	318	Kiser Lewis	Linebacker	Florida A&M
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

^[7]

Undrafted free agents

1980 Undrafted Free Agents of note

Player	Position	College
Allen Anderson	Defensive back	Northern Illinois
Eric Anderson	Quarterback	California
John Arbeznik	Guard	Michigan
Mike Armand	Cornerback	New Mexico State
Mike Augustyniak	Fullback	Purdue
Gordon Banks	Wide receiver	Stanford
Ron Barnes	Safety	Houston
Steve Ensmimger	Quarterback	LSU

Personnel

Staff

1980 New Orleans Saints staff

Front office President – John W. Mecom, Jr. Head coaches Head Coach – Dick Nolan Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator – Ed Hughes Quarterbacks/Receivers – Lamar McHan Offensive Backfield – Nick Nicolau Offensive Line – Dick Stanfel

Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Ed Beard Defensive Line – Tom Pratt Defensive Backfield – Fred Glick Special teams coaches Special Teams – Whitey Campbell Strength and conditioning Strength – Lou Riecke

^[8]

Roster

1980 New Orleans Saints roster

Quarterbacks (QB)  7 Guy Benjamin  8 Archie Manning 12 Bobby Scott Running backs (RB) 43 Larry Collins 45 Jack Holmes 33 Mike Strachan 41 Jimmy Rogers 30 Wayne Wilson FB Wide receivers (WR) 80 Gordon Banks 89 Wes Chandler 86 Tom Donovan 26 Guido Merkens 82 Ike Harris 84 Rich Mauti Tight ends (TE) 85 Henry Childs 87 Larry Hardy 88 Brooks Williams

Offensive linemen (OL) 67 Stan Brock T 57 Larry Coombs G 62 John Hill C 64 Dave Lafary T 68 Fred Sturt G 71 J. T. Taylor T 79 Emanuel Zanders G Defensive linemen (DL) 63 Barry Bennett DE 72 Mike Fultz DT 78 Elois Grooms DE 74 Derland Moore DT 96 Steve Parker DE 75 Elex Price DT 60 Don Reese DE

Linebackers (LB) 50 Ken Bordelon 59 Chuck Evans 58 Joe Federspiel 51 Stan Holloway 55 Dave Washington Defensive backs (DB) 27 Ray Brown S 26 Clarence Chapman CB 23 Jim Marshall 37 Tom Myers FS 44 Dave Waymer CB 22 Ricky Ray CB 48 Don Schwartz 47 Mike Spivey CB Special teams 14 Russell Erxleben P  1 Benny Ricardo K

Reserve -- Lester Boyd LB (IR) 52 Jim Kovach LB (IR) -- Dan Pensick DT (IR) 65 Robert Woods T (IR) Rookies in italics

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 7	San Francisco 49ers	L 23–26	0–1	Louisiana Superdome	58,621
2	September 14	at Chicago Bears	L 3–22	0–2	Soldier Field	62,523
3	September 21	Buffalo Bills	L 26–35	0–3	Louisiana Superdome	51,154
4	September 28	at Miami Dolphins	L 16–21	0–4	Miami Orange Bowl	40,946
5	October 5	St. Louis Cardinals	L 7–40	0–5	Louisiana Superdome	45,388
6	October 12	at Detroit Lions	L 13–24	0–6	Pontiac Silverdome	78,147
7	October 19	Atlanta Falcons	L 14–41	0–7	Louisiana Superdome	62,651
8	October 26	at Washington Redskins	L 14–22	0–8	RFK Stadium	51,375
9	November 2	at Los Angeles Rams	L 31–45	0–9	Anaheim Stadium	59,909
10	November 9	Philadelphia Eagles	L 21–34	0–10	Louisiana Superdome	44,340
11	November 16	at Atlanta Falcons	L 13–31	0–11	Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium	53,871
12	November 24	Los Angeles Rams	L 7–27	0–12	Louisiana Superdome	53,448
13	November 30	Minnesota Vikings	L 20–23	0–13	Louisiana Superdome	30,936
14	December 7	at San Francisco 49ers	L 35–38 (OT)	0–14	Candlestick Park	37,949
15	December 14	at New York Jets	W 21–20	1–14	Shea Stadium	38,077
16	December 21	New England Patriots	L 27–38	1–15	Louisiana Superdome	38,277
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 3 vs Bills

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bills	7	7	7	14	35
Saints	0	19	0	7	26

Game information

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 Three: Buffalo Bills (2–0) at New Orleans Saints (0–2)

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

• Date: September 21
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
• Game weather: Indoors (dome)
• Game attendance: 51,154
• Referee: Fred Wyant
• TV announcers (NBC): Jay Rudolph and Gene Washington
• Box Score

Week 15

1 2 3 4 Total • Saints 7 0 0 14 21 Jets 0 13 0 7 20 Date: December 14 Location: Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 31 °F (−0.6 °C), wind 21 miles per hour (34 km/h; 18 kn)

Scoring summary 1 NO Jack Holmes 14 yard pass from Archie Manning (Benny Ricardo kick) Saints 7–0 2 NYJ Kevin Long 1 yard run (Pat Leahy kick) Tie 7–7 2 NYJ Pat Leahy 27 yard field goal Jets 10–7 2 NYJ Pat Leahy 47 yard field goal Jets 13–7 4 NO Tony Galbreath 1 yard run (Benny Ricardo kick) Saints 14–13 4 NYJ Richard Todd 31 yard run (Pat Leahy kick) Jets 20–14 4 NO Tony Galbreath 1 yard run (Benny Ricardo kick) Saints 21–20

^[9]

Standings

NFC West
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Atlanta Falcons(1)	12	4	0	.750	5–1	10–2	405	272	L1
Los Angeles Rams(5)	11	5	0	.688	5–1	9–3	424	289	W2
San Francisco 49ers	6	10	0	.375	2–4	4–8	320	415	L2
New Orleans Saints	1	15	0	.063	0–6	0–12	291	487	L1

References

1. 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. "Top 10 greatest comebacks in NFL history". National Football League. January 7, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
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. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
8. "All-Time Roster". NewOrleansSaints.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
9. Pro-Football-Reference.com