By Darin Imagine a world where the New Orleans Saints were packed up and moved out of Louisiana. It almost happened in 1985. However, a local automotive mogul and some high-stakes tax negotiations changed the course of NFL history forever. On May 31, 1985, a path was cleared for Tom Benson to purchase the franchise for just over $70 million. This anchored the team at the Superdome and paved the way for a future Super Bowl victory. From franchise-saving business deals to the births of defensive powerhouses like USC’s Richard Wood and Jackson State’s Kevin Dent, May 31 stands as a monumental day of transformation and talent on the gridiron.
Before we begin, let’s view a powerful gridiron image from the late 19th century:
May 31 American Football History Timeline
That was the headline in The Town Talk, Shreveport, Louisiana, on June 1, 1985. It is our Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the Day. It is reporting on the…
- May 31, 1985 – The New Orleans Saints are sold to Tom Benson from John Mecom Jr. for $70,204,000. The final hurdles to the sale were the New Orleans City Council and the School Boards. Each of these approved surrendering its share of sales tax revenue to keep the Saints in New Orleans as part of the deal. This was no small sacrifice either. The nearly $2.8 in revenue surrendered by the two groups went back to the Saints, but the caveat was that Benson signed a 21-year lease with the Superdome. Benson stepped forward in March of 1984 to help on the day when negotiations with the A.N. Pritzker family from Chicago fell apart in February. Mr. Benson, at the time of this writing, still owns the team and has kept the franchise in the Superdome in New Orleans long beyond his initial 21-year obligation. He has employed coaches such as Jim Mora, Mike Ditka, and Sean Payton. He has even clutched a Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts, just a couple of years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area.
May 31 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
Happy Birthday to these defensive titans! Since today is May 31, we celebrate two gridiron greats. Each specialized in shutting down offenses and rewriting their respective schools’ record books.
Here is the list in order of birth:
- Richard Wood [1953] A legendary linebacker for Southern California, “Batman” Wood was a focal point of two National Championship teams. He became the first three-time All-American in Trojan history. Renowned for his combination of 4.6 speed and devastating hitting power, he led the undefeated 1972 squad in tackles by a margin of 30 stops before being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
- Kevin Dent [1967] An elite, ball-hawking safety for Jackson State, Dent is the only player in the university’s storied history to be named a three-time First-Team All-American. He was a two-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Year who intercepted 21 career passes—including a nation-leading 10 during his sophomore campaign. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Conclusion
The events of May 31 illustrate how thin the line can be between a franchise’s relocation and its ultimate glory. The sacrifice of local tax revenues by New Orleans leadership didn’t just save a football team. It also preserved a cultural pillar that would lift an entire community in the wake of Hurricane Katrina twenty-five years later. Combined with the legendary collegiate excellence of Hall of Famers Richard Wood and Kevin Dent, this date serves as a powerful reminder. Football’s legacy is written equally through savvy boardroom decisions and elite defensive dominance.