The New Orleans Saints identity has centered on the fleur-de-lis since the franchise’s first season in 1967. The current primary mark is a gold fleur-de-lis with black and white outlines, displayed on the team’s helmets and at midfield in the Caesars Superdome. The symbol has remained the core of the team’s visual identity for more than five decades, with documented refinements in 2000 and 2017 rather than wholesale redesigns.
Meaning and Symbolism
Fleur-de-lis: The fleur-de-lis, a stylized lily, is a symbol deeply associated with New Orleans and its French heritage. The team’s first majority owner, John W. Mecom Jr., described the fleur-de-lis as a “very pretty symbol and very strong symbol” that came about because of French influence in New Orleans.
Black and gold: The team’s colors, black and gold, were chosen at the franchise’s founding. The colors have remained consistent throughout the team’s history.
Design and History
The National Football League awarded its 16th franchise to New Orleans on November 1, 1966, appropriately on All Saints Day. The team was officially named the “Saints” on January 9, 1967, and the fleur-de-lis was introduced as the logo in the franchise’s inaugural 1967 season. The original mark was a plain black fleur-de-lis.
The fleur-de-lis remained the team’s primary logo from 1967 through 1999. In 2000, the Saints updated their identity. The modern gold fleur-de-lis debuted with a lighter gold tone, a bolder and more compact shape, and black and white outlines to enhance the design. A modern black fleur-de-lis, featuring white, gold, and black outlines, also debuted in 2000 and became the primary logo used on helmets and at midfield.
In 2017, the logo received a subtle update: the shade of old gold was altered slightly. The change was minor enough that it was barely noticeable to casual observers. The shape of the fleur-de-lis itself was not changed.
Beyond the primary fleur-de-lis, the Saints have used several secondary marks. The “Sir Saint” logo, a shield featuring a knight, was used from 1967 to 1984 and saw a revival in 2009. A Louisiana state outline logo with a fleur-de-lis superimposed was used on uniforms from 1985 to 1999, refreshed in 2000, and worn as a patch in 2006 to honor the team’s return to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.
The franchise’s identity took on added significance in 2010 when the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, the team’s first championship.
Typography and Design
Reliable public information identifying the specific typeface used in the official Saints wordmark was not found in the sources reviewed for this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the New Orleans Saints logo represent? The logo is a fleur-de-lis, a stylized lily symbol associated with New Orleans and its French heritage. The team’s first majority owner described it as a strong symbol that came about because of French influence in the city.
What are the official New Orleans Saints colors? The team’s colors are black and gold, sometimes described as old gold, black, and white. The black and gold identity has been consistent since the franchise’s founding.
When was the New Orleans Saints logo redesigned? The fleur-de-lis has been the core logo since 1967. It was significantly updated in 2000 with a bolder, more compact gold version with black and white outlines, and the gold shade was subtly altered again in 2017.
When was the New Orleans Saints founded? The NFL awarded the franchise to New Orleans on November 1, 1966, on All Saints Day. The team was named the “Saints” on January 9, 1967, and played its first season in 1967.
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