Hoping past success could influence the franchise, the Saints hired Hank Stram as the new head coach.
However, in Stram's first season at the helm, the Saints continued to struggle finishing with a 4–10 record.
[1] New Orleans' hopes for success was severely diminished before the season began when Stram learned star quarterback Archie Manning would not be able to play at all due to offseason elbow surgery.
The high point of the season was in week three, when Stram’s Saints traveled to Kansas City and defeated the Chiefs 27–17.
Stram rubbed salt in the wounds of the team he coached for 15 seasons (1960 to 1974) and led to the Super Bowl IV championship when Scott threw a touchdown pass on the game's final play to Tinker Owens.