Tom Benson, the owner of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans passed away today at age 90. The lifelong New Orleanian had been in the hospital suffering from the flu since Feb. 16.
Benson bought a franchise that had been the laughing stock of the NFL since it was founded in 1967 and turned it into a success in just a few short years. The biggest move being his hiring of head coach Jim Mora who would lead the team to its first playoff appearance in 1987.
There were lean years ahead before Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf South.