Take a trip to The Big Easy – New Orleans, Louisiana – and you’ll find Bourbon Street, Jazz Fest, and passionate football fans. The New Orleans Saints, dazzling fans under the artificial lights of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, play in the NFL’s National Football Conference South Division along with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints are currently celebrating their 50th anniversary as an NFL franchise, which makes this the perfect time to look back to find out how their logo has evolved over the years.
#Saints50
Although they were founded in 1967, the New Orleans Saints didn’t begin their run toward greatness until 1985. That was the year the team’s current owner, Tom Benson, purchased the Saints for over $70 million. Modern success for the Saints started in 2006 when the team signed Sean Payton as their head coach and Drew Brees as their quarterback. They also drafted running back Reggie Bush and reopened the Superdome after completing repairs from the impact of Hurricane Katrina. All these efforts led to the Saints winning a Super Bowl in 2010 – the only one for the franchise presently.
Fleur-de-lis
The New Orleans Saints logo ties back to the history of the city and its French founders. The fleur-de-lis, which translates as “flower of the lily,” is often associated with French royalty and is considered a part of the city’s heritage. Check out the changes to the Saints logo over the past 50 years.
Notable Logo Changes
1967–1999: This black fleur-de-lis is the first version of the logo. This logo, used for over 30 years, provides fans with an iconic symbol that’s tethered to the history of New Orleans.
2000–Present: As they head into the modern era, the Saints opt to tighten up the logo and change the main color to gold. They also outline the fleur-de-lis in black.
As the Saints Go Marching on
While the New Orleans Saints may not be the most storied franchise in the NFL, they’re still intimately connected with their city and fan base. New Orleans residents and team members continue to work toward bringing another Super Bowl victory home. Let everyone see you marching into the Superdome with team spirit. Find head-to-toe style: Get the best officially licensed Saints merchandise and apparel from Fanatics.
Sources
- http://www.nojazzfest.com/
- http://www.neworleansonline.com/tools/streets/bourbonstreet.html
- http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/New-Orleans-Saints-to-celebrate-50th-season-in-2016/e5814f6f-6778-4921-941c-c972dc55aa19
- http://www.fleurdelis.com/fleur.htm
- http://saints50.com/timeline/
- http://www.whereyat.com/new-orleans-logo
- http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/louisiana/state-cultural-heritage/fleur-de-lis
