1993 New Orleans Saints season

The 1993 New Orleans Saints season was the team's 27th as a member of the National Football League (NFL). They were unable to match their previous season's output of 12–4, winning only eight games despite starting the season 5–0.[1] The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in four years.

1993 New Orleans Saints season
General managerJim Finks (resigned July 14)
Jim Miller
Head coachJim Mora
Home fieldLouisiana Superdome
Results
Record8–8
Division place2nd NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersLB Rickey Jackson
LB Renaldo Turnbull
KR Tyrone Hughes

Quarterback Bobby Hebert, who was the Saints' starter from late 1985 through 1992, save for a season-long holdout in 1990, signed as a free agent with the division rival Atlanta Falcons. Wade Wilson, who had fallen out of favor with the Minnesota Vikings after the hiring of coach Dennis Green in 1992, was signed as Hebert's replacement.[citation needed]

During a loss to the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, fans in the Louisiana Superdome let out a sarcastic cheer when Wilson was injured. The incident enraged coach Jim Mora, who let loose with a tirade during his post-game press conference.[2]

Offseason

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Organizational changes

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Jim Finks, the club's president and general manager since January 1986, was diagnosed with lung cancer in April.[3] He was limited to consulting with team officials by telephone since undergoing chemotherapy. During his absence, most of Finks' day-to-day duties were handled by vice president of administration Jim Miller. On July 14, Finks resigned from all his duties to concentrate on the treatment of his illness.[4]

NFL Draft

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1993 New Orleans Saints draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
18Willie Roaf *  Offensive tackleLouisiana Tech
120Irv Smith Tight endNotre Dame
253Reggie Freeman LinebackerFlorida State
489Lorenzo Neal * FullbackFresno State
4109Derek Brown Running backNebraska
5137Tyrone Hughes * CornerbackNebraska
6165Ronnie Dixon Defensive tackleCincinnati
7193Othello Henderson Defensive backUCLA
8221Jon Kirksey Defensive tackleSacramento State
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[5]

Personnel

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Staff

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1993 New Orleans Saints staff

Front office

  • Owner/General Partner – Tom Benson
  • Vice President of Administration – Jim Miller
  • Director of player personnel – Bill Kuharich

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Russell Paternostro

[6]

Roster

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1993 New Orleans Saints roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad

53 active, 9 inactive, 2 practice squad


Rookies in italics

Regular season

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Schedule

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WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 5Houston OilersW 33–211–0Louisiana Superdome69,029
2September 12at Atlanta FalconsW 34–312–0Georgia Dome64,287
3September 19Detroit LionsW 14–33–0Louisiana Superdome69,039
4September 26San Francisco 49ersW 16–134–0Louisiana Superdome69,041
5October 3at Los Angeles RamsW 37–65–0Anaheim Stadium50,709
6Bye
7October 17at Pittsburgh SteelersL 14–375–1Three Rivers Stadium56,056
8October 24Atlanta FalconsL 15–265–2Louisiana Superdome69,043
9October 31at Phoenix CardinalsW 20–176–2Sun Devil Stadium36,778
10Bye
11November 14Green Bay PackersL 17–196–3Louisiana Superdome69,043
12November 22at San Francisco 49ersL 7–426–4Candlestick Park66,500
13November 28at Minnesota VikingsW 17–147–4Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome53,030
14December 5at Cleveland BrownsL 13–177–5Cleveland Municipal Stadium60,388
15December 12Los Angeles RamsL 20–237–6Louisiana Superdome69,033
16December 20New York GiantsL 14–247–7Louisiana Superdome69,036
17December 26at Philadelphia EaglesL 26–377–8Veterans Stadium50,085
18January 2, 1994Cincinnati BengalsW 20–138–8Louisiana Superdome58,036
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

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Week 1: at New Orleans Saints

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Week 1: Houston Oilers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period1234Total
Oilers7001421
Saints31061433

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

Standings

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NFC West
WLTPCTPFPASTK
(2) San Francisco 49ers1060.625473295L2
New Orleans Saints880.500317343W1
Atlanta Falcons6100.375316385L3
Los Angeles Rams5110.313221367W1

References

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  1. ^ 1993 New Orleans Saints
  2. ^ "Saints Fans Devilish in Booing QB Wilson". The Baltimore Sun. December 26, 1993. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  3. ^ Plaschke, Bill (July 7, 1993). "Toughest Test: Football Executive Jim Finks Has Always Tackled Difficult Projects, but Now Battles Lung Cancer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  4. ^ "Finks Resigns to Fight Battle With Cancer". Los Angeles Times. July 15, 1993. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  5. ^ "1993 New Orleans Saints Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  6. ^ "All-Time Roster". NewOrleansSaints.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2011.