J.D. Roberts (football)
Encyclopedia
John David "J. D." Roberts (born October 24, 1932) was an American football player and coach, serving as head coach of the New Orleans Saints
of the National Football League
from the middle of the 1970 season
until his dimsissal after four preseason games in 1973
.
Roberts was hired by Saints owner John Mecom on November 3, 1970, replacing Tom Fears
after New Orleans began 1970
with a 1-5-1 record. His first game came five days later at Tulane Stadium
against the Detroit Lions
. The Saints won 19-17 when Tom Dempsey
kicked a 63 yards (57.6 m) field goal, a record which broke the previous NFL mark by seven yards. Dempsey's record was tied by Jason Elam
of the Denver Broncos
in 1998, but nobody has bettered the mark.
The Saints' success did not carry over following Dempsey's miracle kick. A 21-10 loss the next week to the Miami Dolphins
started a six-game losing streak which left the Saints with a 2-11-1 mark for the season.
With the second pick in the 1971 NFL Draft
, Roberts and Mecom selected Ole Miss
quarterback Archie Manning
, who became the cornerstone for the woebegone franchise for the next decade. In Manning's first NFL game, his two yard touchdown run on the game's final play gave the Saints a 24-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams
, the same team which defeated the Saints in the franchise's first game in 1967. Four weeks later, the Saints stunned the eventual Super Bowl
champion Dallas Cowboys
24-14, but New Orleans finished the season 4-8-2.
New Orleans regressed sharply in 1972, falling back to 2-11-1, and Roberts was fired shortly after a 31-6 preseason loss to the New England Patriots
on August 25, 1973.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
from the middle of the 1970 season
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
until his dimsissal after four preseason games in 1973
1973 NFL season
The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season...
.
Roberts was hired by Saints owner John Mecom on November 3, 1970, replacing Tom Fears
Tom Fears
Thomas Jesse Fears was a Mexican-American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League, playing nine seasons from 1948 to 1956.-Early life:...
after New Orleans began 1970
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
with a 1-5-1 record. His first game came five days later at Tulane Stadium
Tulane Stadium
Tulane Stadium was an outdoor football stadium located in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1926 to 1980. Officially known as the Third Tulane Stadium, it replaced the "Second Tulane Stadium" where the Telephone Exchange Building is now located...
against the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. The Saints won 19-17 when Tom Dempsey
Tom Dempsey
Thomas Dempsey is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints , Philadelphia Eagles , Los Angeles Rams , Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills . He attended high school at San Dieguito High School and played college football at Palomar College...
kicked a 63 yards (57.6 m) field goal, a record which broke the previous NFL mark by seven yards. Dempsey's record was tied by Jason Elam
Jason Elam
Jason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
of the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1998, but nobody has bettered the mark.
The Saints' success did not carry over following Dempsey's miracle kick. A 21-10 loss the next week to the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
started a six-game losing streak which left the Saints with a 2-11-1 mark for the season.
With the second pick in the 1971 NFL Draft
1971 NFL Draft
The 1971 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1971.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
, Roberts and Mecom selected Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
quarterback Archie Manning
Archie Manning
Elisha Archibald "Archie" Manning III is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, playing for the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1982, then for the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings...
, who became the cornerstone for the woebegone franchise for the next decade. In Manning's first NFL game, his two yard touchdown run on the game's final play gave the Saints a 24-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, the same team which defeated the Saints in the franchise's first game in 1967. Four weeks later, the Saints stunned the eventual Super Bowl
Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 regular season...
champion Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
24-14, but New Orleans finished the season 4-8-2.
New Orleans regressed sharply in 1972, falling back to 2-11-1, and Roberts was fired shortly after a 31-6 preseason loss to the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
on August 25, 1973.