Just before the start of the 2005 NFL regular season, the Superdome prepped for football games.
The iconic stadium stood as a last-resort shelter for New Orleans residents who were unable to evacuate from the destructive path of Hurricane Katrina.
And one year later, it hosted one of the most exciting seasons in the Saints’ history.
As the city began to rebuild, so did the Saints. Coming off a nightmarish 3-13 season, nobody could have expected the ride on which the Saints took New Orleans and Louisiana in 2006.
The Saints raced out to a 2-0 start with victories against the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers on the road.
On Sept. 26, 2006, the Saints hosted the Atlanta Falcons, the first game in the Superdome since the storm. The Falcons were no match for the Saints, who treated the crowd to a dominating 23-3 victory highlighted by Steve Gleason’s blocked punt, which was returned for a touchdown.
Nobody was beating the Saints in the Superdome that night. You could form a superteam of the best football players of all time at every single position — it wouldn’t matter.
The Saints played with a level of energy I’d never seen before, and it was mirrored by a raucous crowd that was heard clearly through the TV. There was so much energy, it felt like I was in the Superdome cheering the Saints on when, in actuality, I was standing in my living room with my face 3 feet from the TV screen.
The Saints took the momentum from early in the season and finished 10-6, bringing New Orleans its second home playoff game ever against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Saints won.
They fell to the Chicago Bears the following week in the NFC Championship, but it wasn’t a failure. They’d brought a city, a state and a region hope.
For people who needed inspiration, the Saints provided it.
In a year, they went from a displaced, easy win for most teams to a 10-win team with a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The Saints were a franchise rebuilt — a franchise reborn. They displayed the same tenacious, never-say-die attitude those affected by Katrina did.
When the Saints played in 2006, it felt like more than just a game. They weren’t just playing for themselves. The Saints were truly playing for their fans, playing for a city, playing for a region.
And man, was it a joy to watch.
Jack Woods is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Ruston, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @Jack_TDR.