The 2009 season was the New Orleans Saints' 43rd in the National Football League (NFL), and as of the 2025 season's conclusion, the most successful in franchise history. The Saints recorded a franchise record 13 regular season victories (later tied in the 2011, 2018, and 2019 seasons) an improvement on their 8–8 record and fourth-place finish in the NFC South from 2008, and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 en route to victory in Super Bowl XLIV.
With a victory over division rival Carolina Panthers on November 8, the Saints jumped out to an 8–0 start, the best in franchise history. They went on to set the record for the longest undefeated season opening (13–0) by an NFC team since the AFL–NFL merger, eclipsing the previous record (12–0) held by the 1985 Chicago Bears. This record has since been tied by the 2011 Green Bay Packers and surpassed by their divisional rival Carolina Panthers in 2015. Despite losing the last three games of the season to finish 13–3, the team clinched a playoff berth, a first-round bye and—for the first time ever—the top seed in the NFC. The Saints defeated Kurt Warner and the defending NFC Champions Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Divisional playoffs, and proceeded to host the NFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history. There, they defeated Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings in overtime, then went on to face Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts at Super Bowl XLIV in the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl appearance. The Saints won the Super Bowl 31–17, giving the city of New Orleans its first, and currently only, pro sports championship. The Saints are the first team to defeat three former Super Bowl winning quarterbacks in a row in the playoffs to win the Super Bowl, and were the only team to do so until their division rival Buccaneers did in 2020, with the Buccaneers beating Drew Brees and the Saints in the NFC Divisional. The Saints, along with the New York Jets, are the only teams to go to only one Super Bowl and win it.
Although five Saints were elected to the Pro Bowl (with two others added as injury replacements), since the game was held one week prior to Super Bowl XLIV, they did not participate.
In 2019, the 2009 Saints were ranked No. 30 as the best NFL teams of all time.
The team’s Super Bowl run later became controversial when it was discovered that they had put in a bounty program intent on injuring other quarterbacks such as Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Favre’s 2010 season was affected by injuries he sustained in the NFC Championship, and he needed surgery before the season.
Offseason
Staff changes Bill Johnson was named the defensive line coach. Gregg Williams replaced Gary Gibbs as the defensive coordinator on January 15, 2009 after Gibbs was fired on January 7, 2009. On January 12, 2009, Pete Carmichael, Jr. replaced Doug Marrone as the offensive coordinator after Marrone had resigned from his position in December 2008; Aaron Kromer was named the offensive line coach/running game, and as a result, Bret Ingalls replaced him as the running backs coach; Joe Lombardi was named the quarterbacks coach.
Signings Pos. Player Date NotesCBJabari GreerMarch 4, 2009FBHeath EvansMarch 5, 2009DEPaul SpicerMarch 17, 2009CNick LeckeyMarch 17, 2009TEDarnell DinkinsMarch 18, 2009FSDarren SharperMarch 18, 2009SPierson PrioleauMarch 26, 2009DTRoderick ColemanMarch 27, 2009OLBAnthony WatersApril 15, 2009FSMalcolm JenkinsApril 25, 2009#14 overall 2009 NFL Draft pickSChip VaughnApril 26, 2009#116 overall 2009 NFL Draft pickMLBStanley ArnouxApril 26, 2009#118 overall 2009 NFL Draft pickPThomas MorsteadApril 26, 2009#164th overall 2009 NFL Draft pick, acquired as part of a pick trade with the Philadelphia EaglesDTAnthony HargroveMay 18, 2009LSJason KyleJune 2009#126 Overall 1995 NFL Draft pickRBDeuce McAllisterJanuary 15, 2010Resigned to active roster and named honorary team captain.
Departures Pos. Player Date NotesWRDavid PattenFebruary 12, 2009Placed on waived-injured listRBDeuce McAllisterFebruary 17, 2009Placed on waived-injured listCBMike McKenzieMarch 19, 2009Placed on waived-injured listDTBrian YoungApril 28, 2009Placed on waived-injured listDTHollis ThomasApril 29, 2009Placed on waived-injured listRBDeuce McAllisterJanuary 19, 2010Retires from football and placed on reserve-retired list
NFL draft
Personnel
Final roster
Depth chart
Coaching staff New Orleans Saints 2009 staff Front office Owner – Tom Benson Owner/executive vice president – Rita Benson LeBlanc Executive vice president/general manager – Mickey Loomis Director of football administration – Khai Harley Director of pro scouting – Ryan Pace Director of college scouting – Rick Reiprish Assistant director of college scouting – Brian Adams
Head coaches Head coach – Sean Payton Assistant head coach/linebackers – Joe Vitt
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Pete Carmichael, Jr. Quarterbacks – Joe Lombardi Running backs – Bret Ingalls Wide receivers – Curtis Johnson Tight ends – Terry Malone Offensive line/running game – Aaron Kromer Offensive assistant/assistant player programs – Carter Sheridan Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Gregg Williams Defensive line – Bill Johnson Assistant defensive line – Travis Jones Secondary – Dennis Allen Assistant secondary – Tony Oden Defensive assistant/linebackers – Adam Zimmer
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Greg McMahon Assistant special teams – Mike Mallory
Strength and conditioning Head strength and conditioning – Dan Dalrymple Assistant strength and conditioning – Adam Bailey Strength and conditioning assistant – Charles Byrd
Coaching assistants Mike Cerullo, Blake Williams
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Cincinnati Bengals W 17–7 1–0 Louisiana Superdome Recap 2 at Houston Texans W 38–14 2–0 Reliant Stadium Recap 3 at Oakland Raiders W 45–7 3–0 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 4 Miami Dolphins L 7–10 3–1 Louisiana Superdome Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 13 Detroit Lions W 45–27 1–0 Louisiana Superdome Recap 2 September 20 at Philadelphia Eagles W 48–22 2–0 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 September 27 at Buffalo Bills W 27–7 3–0 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 4 October 4 New York Jets W 24–10 4–0 Louisiana Superdome Recap 5Bye 6 October 18 New York Giants W 48–27 5–0 Louisiana Superdome Recap 7 October 25 at Miami Dolphins W 46–34 6–0 Land Shark Stadium Recap 8 Atlanta Falcons W 35–27 7–0 Louisiana Superdome Recap 9 November 8 Carolina Panthers W 30–20 8–0 Louisiana Superdome Recap 10 November 15 at St. Louis Rams W 28–23 9–0 Edward Jones Dome Recap 11 November 22 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 38–7 10–0 Raymond James Stadium Recap 12 New England Patriots W 38–17 11–0 Louisiana Superdome Recap 13 December 6 at Washington Redskins W 33–30 12–0 FedExField Recap 14 December 13 at Atlanta Falcons W 26–23 13–0 Georgia Dome Recap 15 Dallas Cowboys L 17–24 13–1 Louisiana Superdome Recap 16 December 27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–20 13–2 Louisiana Superdome Recap 17 January 3 at Carolina Panthers L 10–23 13–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Detroit Lions
The Saints began their season with a Week 1 duel against the Detroit Lions. New Orleans got off to a fast start in the first quarter as quarterback Drew Brees completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marques Colston and a 39-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Meachem. The Lions answered with kicker Jason Hanson kicking a 47-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Detroit came closer as running back Kevin Smith scored on a 4-yard touchdown run. The Saints replied with Brees completing 1-yard and a 15-yard touchdown passes to tight end Jeremy Shockey.
The Lions tried to catch up in the third quarter as quarterback Matthew Stafford got a 1-yard touchdown run, yet New Orleans answered with kicker John Carney making a 39-yard field goal. Detroit responded respond with Hanson nailing a 24-yard field goal, while the Saints kept pounding away as Brees completed a 58-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Devery Henderson. The Lions closed out the period with safety Louis Delmas returning a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, New Orleans closed out the game as Brees completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to fullback Heath Evans.
With the win, not only did the Saints begin their season at 1–0, but Brees (26-of-34, 358 yards, 6 touchdowns, 1 interception) became the first quarterback to throw 6 touchdown passes in an opening day game, as well as tying Billy Kilmer's franchise record for touchdown passes in a game.
Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
Coming off their win over the Lions, the Saints flew to Lincoln Financial Field for a Week 2 duel with the Philadelphia Eagles. In the first quarter, New Orleans drew first blood as quarterback Drew Brees completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marques Colston. The Eagles answered with quarterback Kevin Kolb (in his first start as the Eagles' quarterback) completing a 71-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeSean Jackson, yet the Saints replied with kicker John Carney making a 23-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Philadelphia tied the game as kicker David Akers got a 23-yard field goal. New Orleans answered with Brees completing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Colston. The Eagles closed out the half as Akers made a 32-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Saints began to take command as Brees completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to fullback Heath Evans, along with running back Mike Bell getting a 7-yard touchdown run and Carney nailing a 25-yard field goal. The Eagles answered with Kolb completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jason Avant. In the fourth quarter, New Orleans kept up its domination as running back Reggie Bush got a 19-yard touchdown. Philadelphia drove to the Saints' 5-yard line, but could not score and the drive ended on downs; the Saints were then unable to move the ball and, rather than punting out of their own end zone, opted to have Brees throw the ball out of the end zone for an intentional safety. After the ensuing free kick, the Eagles again drove deep into Saints territory, but again failed to score, as Kolb threw an interception which safety Darren Sharper returned 97 yards for a touchdown.
With the win, the Saints improved to 2–0.
Week 3: at Buffalo Bills
Coming off their win over the Eagles, the Saints flew to Ralph Wilson Stadium for a Week 3 interconference duel with the Buffalo Bills. New Orleans made an immediate impact in the first quarter with running back Lynell Hamilton's 1-yard touchdown run. The Bills answered in the second quarter on a fake field goal attempt; punter Brian Moorman completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to defensive end Ryan Denney. The Saints closed out the half with kicker John Carney's 27-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, New Orleans took control in the fourth quarter with running back Pierre Thomas' 34-yard touchdown run, Carney's 35-yard field goal, and Thomas' 19-yard touchdown run.
With the win, the Saints improved to 3–0.
Week 4: vs. New York Jets
Coming off their road win over the Bills, the Saints went home for a Week 4 interconference duel with the New York Jets. New Orleans delivered the game's first points as kicker John Carney got a 34-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the defense went to work. Safety Darren Sharper returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown, followed by defensive end Will Smith forcing an endzone fumble by sacking Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, which allowed defensive tackle Remi Ayodele to land on the ball for a touchdown. Afterwards, New York closed out the half with kicker Jay Feely's 38-yard field goal.