1974 New Orleans Saints season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 New Orleans Saints 1974 5–9 3rd NFC West John W. Mecom Jr. John North Tulane Stadium Did not qualify None Saints seasons thumb|Logo of New Orleans Saints (1967-1999) The 1974 New Orleans Saints season was the team's eighth as a member of the National Football League (NFL). This was their final season at Tulane Stadium as the Louisiana Superdome opened the following season (at the end of the 1973 season, the Saints were scheduled to move into the Superdome in August 1974, but continued construction delays pushed the timeline back one year). They matched their previous season's output of 5–9.1974 New Orleans Saints The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. Despite another losing record, the Saints defeated two of the NFC's four playoff entries, ousting the Los Angeles Rams 20–7 in week 10 and the St. Louis Cardinals 14–0 in week 13, both at home. The win over the Cardinals was the Saints’ final game at Tulane Stadium. In between the wins vs. the Rams and Cardinals, New Orleans lost to the teams which faced off in Super Bowl IX at Tulane Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. The 28-7 setback vs. the Steelers at home was New Orleans' last appearance on Monday Night Football until 1979. The Saints ended an 18-game winless streak on the road when they defeated the Atlanta Falcons in week six. However, they would not win again away from New Orleans until 1976 when they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. From 1972 through 1975, the Saints were 1–26–1 on the road. The win at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium allowed New Orleans to complete its first season sweep of Atlanta since the Saints and Falcons became division rivals in 1970. The Saints entered 1974 with a nine-game losing streak to their archrival, including a humiliating 62–7 rout at home in the previous season's opener. New Orleans did not sweep Atlanta again until 1983. In a rare fluke, the Saints did not wear their black jerseys for any game in the 1974 season. They donned white uniforms at home, and when on the road, each of their opponents opted to wear their colored uniforms. Offseason NFL draft 1974 NFL draft 1974 New Orleans Saints 1 13 Rick Middleton Linebacker Ohio State yes 2 36 Paul Seal Tight end Michigan yes 4 88 Rod McNeill Running back USC yes 5 113 Joel Parker Wide receiver Ohio State yes 5 121 Terry Schmidt Cornerback Ball State yes 8 201 Alvin Maxson Running back Southern Methodist yes 9 217 Phil LaPorta Offensive tackle Penn State yes 10 235 Frosty Anderson Wide receiver Nebraska no 10 242 Tommy Thibodeaux Guard Tulane no 11 270 Kent Merritt Wide receiver Virginia no 12 295 Jim Buckmon Defensive end Pittsburgh no 13 320 Mike Truax Linebacker Tulane no 14 348 Kent Marshall Defensive back Texas Christian no 15 373 Larry Cipa Quarterback Michigan yes 15 391 Jim Polak Center Purdue no 16 398 Don Coleman Linebacker Michigan yes 17 426 Marvin Williams Wide receiver Western Illinois no no no https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nor/1974_draft.htm 1974 New Orleans Saints draftees Pro-Football-Reference.com November 10, 2014 Personnel Staff 1974 New Orleans Saints President – John W. Mecom Jr. Assistant to the President – Fred Williams Executive Vice President – Richard F. Gordon, Jr. Vice President of Administration – Harry Hulmes Business Manager and Treasurer – Eddie Jones Director of Pro Scouting – Ernie Hefferle Director of Player Personnel – Bob Whitman Head Coach – John North Quarterbacks – Lamar McHan Offensive Backs – Bob Ledbetter Receivers – Jim Phillips Offensive Line – Wimp Hewgley Defensive Line – Bob Cummings Linebackers – Doug Shively Defensive Backfield – Bud Whitehead Roster 1974 New Orleans Saints 13 Larry Cipa y  8 Archie Manning 12 Bobby Scott American football 38 Bill Butler running back 47 Jack DeGrenier y 28 Alvin Maxson y 27 Rod McNeill y 34 Jess Phillips American football 22 Howard Stevens 86 Dave Davis American football 80 Sam Havrilak 41 Bob Newland 42 Joel Parker American football y 49 Bob Wicks 87 Henry Childs y 85 John Beasley American football 84 Paul Seal y 51 John Didion C 50 Jake Kupp G 67 Phil LaPorta y T 73 John Mooring T 76 Don Morrison American football T 66 Rocky Rasley G 65 Dave Thompson American football T 79 Emanuel Zanders y G 63 Steve Baumgartner DT/DE 88 Andy Dorris DE 74 Derland Moore DT 78 Billy Newsome DE 72 Joe Owens DE 82 Bob Pollard DE/DT 75 Elex Price DT 55 Don Coleman linebacker y OLB 59 Wayne Colman OLB 58 Joe Federspiel MLB 53 Rick Kingrea MLB 57 Jim Merlo OLB 54 Rick Middleton American football y OLB 21 Greg Boyd no SS 44 Chris Farasopoulos FS 24 Johnny Fuller American football SS 30 Ernie Jackson CB 11 Bivian Lee CB 37 Tom Myers safety FS 29 Mo Spencer y CB 16 Tom Blanchard P 19 Bill McClard K 89 Frosty Anderson y no WR IR 83 Len Garrett TE IR 39 Odell Lawson RB IR 48 Curtis Martin y no TE IR 25 Jerry Moore American football, born 1949 S IR 40 Terry Schmidt y CB IR 17 Speedy Thomas WR IR Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 15 San Francisco 49ers L 13–17 0–1 Tulane Stadium 65,071 Recap 2 September 22 at Los Angeles Rams L 0–24 0–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 64,178 Recap 3 September 29 Atlanta Falcons W 14–13 1–2 Tulane Stadium 62,273 Recap 4 October 6 at Chicago Bears L 10–24 1–3 Soldier Field 45,818 Recap 5 October 13 at Denver Broncos L 17–33 1–4 Mile High Stadium 50,881 Recap 6 October 20 at Atlanta Falcons W 13–3 2–4 Atlanta Stadium 47,217 Recap 7 October 27 Philadelphia Eagles W 14–10 3–4 Tulane Stadium 64,257 Recap 8 November 3 at Detroit Lions L 14–19 3–5 Tiger Stadium 43,256 Recap 9 November 10 Miami Dolphins L 0–21 3–6 Tulane Stadium 74,289 Recap 10 November 17 Los Angeles Rams W 20–7 4–6 Tulane Stadium 57,287 Recap 11 November 25, 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers L 7–28 4–7 Tulane Stadium 71,907 Recap 12 December 1 at Minnesota Vikings L 9–29 4–8 Metropolitan Stadium 44,202 Recap 13 December 8 St. Louis Cardinals W 14–0 5–8 Tulane Stadium 57,152 Recap 14 December 15 at San Francisco 49ers L 21–35 5–9 Candlestick Park 40,418 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Standings References External links 1974 New Orleans Saints at Pro-Football-Reference.com Category:New Orleans Saints seasons New Orleans Saints New Orl Category:1970s in New Orleans