What Is 1985 New Orleans Saints football team

Overview

The 1985 New Orleans Saints season marked the franchise's 19th year in the National Football League and the fifth under head coach Bum Phillips. Despite high hopes following a slightly improved 7-9 record in 1984, the team regressed to a 5-11 finish, placing fourth in the NFC West division.

The Saints struggled on both offense and defense, failing to secure a winning record for the 10th consecutive season. They played their home games at the Louisiana Superdome and were unable to qualify for the postseason, continuing a long-standing playoff drought that frustrated fans and management alike.

• Record: The team finished with a 5-11 record, their worst since the 1980 season, losing six of their final seven games.
• Head coach:Bum Phillips served as head coach for the final time in 1985 before being replaced by his son, Jim Mora, in 1986.
• Home stadium: All home games were played at the Louisiana Superdome, a domed stadium in downtown New Orleans.
• Quarterback:Bobby Hebert started 10 games, throwing for 1,961 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
• Division standing: The Saints placed 4th in the NFC West, ahead of only the 3-13 Atlanta Falcons.

Season Performance & Key Players

The 1985 Saints season was defined by inconsistency, particularly on offense, where injuries and turnovers derailed progress. Despite flashes of promise, the team failed to build momentum and remained near the bottom of the NFC standings.

• Offensive struggles: The Saints averaged only 17.8 points per game, ranking 21st out of 28 teams in the NFL.
• Defensive issues: They allowed 24.3 points per game, one of the worst defensive performances in the league.
• Running back:Larry Burton was the leading rusher with 557 yards and three touchdowns on 137 carries.
• Receiving corps:Henry Childs caught 41 passes for 575 yards and two touchdowns, leading the team in receptions.
• Special teams: Kicker Morten Andersen, a rookie, made 20 of 27 field goals and scored 97 total points.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1985 Saints compared to the previous season and the eventual Super Bowl champion:

The table highlights the Saints' decline from 1984 and their stark contrast with dominant teams like the 1985 Chicago Bears. While the Bears led the league in both scoring and defense, the Saints ranked near the bottom in multiple statistical categories, underscoring their struggles.

Why It Matters

The 1985 season was a turning point for the Saints franchise, as it led to significant changes in leadership and team direction. The failure to improve prompted the front office to seek new leadership, ultimately bringing in Jim Mora as head coach in 1986.

• Coaching change: Bum Phillips was fired after the season, ending a five-year tenure that included no playoff appearances.
• Rebuilding phase: The 1985 season signaled the need for a full organizational rebuild, both on and off the field.
• Fan frustration: Attendance and morale dipped, increasing pressure on ownership to deliver better results.
• Draft implications: The poor record gave the Saints high draft picks, including the 1st overall pick in 1986, used on QB Todd Blackledge (traded).
• Historical context: The Saints had now missed the playoffs in 19 of their first 19 seasons, a league-worst record at the time.
• Future success: The 1985 struggles laid the foundation for future improvements, culminating in the team’s first playoff berth in 1987.

The 1985 New Orleans Saints may not be remembered for on-field success, but their season played a crucial role in shaping the franchise’s future trajectory through necessary changes and long-term planning.