The 1973 New Orleans Saints season was the team's seventh as a member of the National Football League (NFL).
2 overall selection in the 1973 NFL draft to the Baltimore Colts for defensive end Billy Newsome.
The Colts used the traded pick to select LSU quarterback Bert Jones, who guided the team to three consecutive AFC East division championships from 1975 to 1977.
Roberts, who became the Saints' second head coach midway through the 1970 season, was fired August 27, two days after a 31–6 loss to the New England Patriots in the fourth exhibition game.
They did however hold O. J. Simpson to 74 yard on 20 carries in the team's first ever shutout, with a 13–0 win over the Buffalo Bills.