The Athletic’s inaugural New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame (2024)

Selecting a New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame is a major challenge. It’s like trying to list your favorite restaurants in the city. The possibilities are endless, the task daunting.

New Orleans is one of the greatest sports cities in America. Over the years, the Crescent City has been blessed with some of the sports world’s greatest athletes and most successful coaches. The men and women who have played, coached and worked here rank among the best and most respected in their fields.

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It’s hard enough to come up with the sports figures that deserve to be in the Hall. Ranking those athletes, coaches and administrators in order of their impact on the city is nearly impossible. But in these trying times, we tried.

Each member of our staff produced their own top-10 list of New Orleans sports figures. We then assigned each one a numerical value – 10 points for No. 1, 9 for No. 2, etc. – to produce our Hall of Fame ranking. We tweaked the list here or there to adjust for recency bias and to ensure inclusiveness among all sports.

The criteria we applied was simple. Select sports figures — athletes, coaches, owners, administrators and journalists — who made the most impact on New Orleans area sports during their respective careers. Everyone was eligible: professional, college and high school players; coaches, administrators; and owners. This was a regional Hall of Fame; not a statewide one. Only athletes, coaches and administrators from the New Orleans market were considered. We extended the market reach to include Baton Rouge so LSU and Southern University candidates were also in the mix.

We only considered the sports figure’s impact on the New Orleans area. That’s why great New Orleans high school players like Aeneas Williams, Marshall Faulk, Peyton and Eli Manning, Reggie Wayne, Odell Beckham Jr. and Will Clark did not rank as high as their respective sports careers might otherwise merit — the idea being that most of Peyton Manning’s sporting impact took place in Knoxville, Tenn., Indianapolis and Denver.

Without further ado, here’s The Athletic New Orleans staff’s inaugural New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame. Let us know what your list would be in the comment stream. We would love to hear what you like or don’t like about our list.

First ballot Hall of Famers

1. Drew Brees, quarterback, New Orleans Saints (2006-present)

No single person has transformed the fortunes of the Saints franchise more than the perennial Pro Bowl quarterback and NFL all-time passing leader. He has more passing yards, touchdowns and completions than any quarterback in NFL history, the first and only quarterback to simultaneously hold those three milestones since Sammy Baugh (1937-1952). He’s the all-time leader in completion percentage, has the most consecutive seasons of both 4,000 and 5,000 passing yards, and most consecutive seasons with both at least 20 and 30 touchdown passes. Along with head coach Sean Payton, Brees has raised the standards of the entire Saints business and football operation and changed the culture and perception of the franchise. Thanks to Brees’ leadership on and off the field, the Saints are now one of the most respected and successful teams in the league.

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2. Pete Maravich, guard, LSU (1967-1970), New Orleans Jazz (1974-1980)

The man known as Pistol Pete is the most exciting and revered player in Louisiana basketball history. In a state where football is king, Maravich was an icon who generated unprecedented interest in basketball during both his college and professional careers. At LSU, he was the most prolific scorer in school history, averaging 44.2 points a game while playing for his father, Coach Press Maravich. He left the school as the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points, a feat he accomplished before the adoption of the 3-point scoring line and shot clock — and despite not playing as a freshman. With the Jazz, he helped set season ticket sales records and led the NBA in scoring 1976-1977 with a 31.1-point average. He was a five-time NBA All-Star and was named to the NBA’s 50^th anniversary all-time team in 1996.

3. Dave Dixon, sports executive (1962-2010)

The New Orleans native was the driving force behind the concept and construction of the Louisiana Superdome and the father of professional football in New Orleans. Along with Gov. John McKeithen, Dixon spearheaded efforts to land an NFL expansion team in New Orleans in 1966 and received a blessing from Archbishop Philip M. Hannan to name the team the Saints. He later persuaded McKeithen to endorse the construction of a new domed stadium in downtown New Orleans. The Louisiana Superdome became a major economic engine for the state of Louisiana and made New Orleans a mecca for major national sporting events, including Super Bowls, NCAA Final Fours and college football national championship games.

(Adam Hunger / Getty Images)

Other enshrinees

6. Tom & Gayle Benson, owners, New Orleans Saints (1986-present)

Tom Benson changed the fortunes of New Orleans professional football team when he bought it in 1986 and hired general manager Jim Finks and head coach Jim Mora. Under the watch of Benson and his wife, Gayle, the Saints have become a perennial playoff contender. The hiring of general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Sean Payton ushered in the most successful era in club history and transformed the perception of the organization leaguewide. The Bensons bought the Hornets from the NBA in 2012 and rebranded the team as the Pelicans two years later. Their GMB Racing stables also enjoyed immediate success, sending two horses to the Kentucky Derby in their first year of operation.

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7. Sean Payton, head coach, New Orleans Saints (2006-present)

Since taking over in 2006, Payton, along with general manager Mickey Loomis, has rebuilt the culture in the Saints organization and ushered in the most successful period in club history. His aggressive approach and high-flying offense have made the Saints one of the most popular and high-profile teams in the NFL. In the 39 seasons before Payton arrived, the Saints had a 237-352-5 record, a winning percentage of .403. In that span, the club made 43 appearances on national television, won two division titles and one playoff game. In Payton’s 14-year tenure, the Saints have gone 138-84 (62.1), made 50 prime-time television appearances, won six division titles and won the franchise’s only Super Bowl title.

8. J.T. Curtis, head coach, John Curtis School

Curtis is a living legend at the school his father founded in River Ridge. He inherited his father’s team in 1969 at the age of 22 and went 0-10 in his first season. In the 50 seasons since then, his teams have compiled a 595-56-6 record and won a national record 27 state championships. Some of his team’s milestones are mindboggling: 50 consecutive winning seasons; 13 undefeated seasons; and two 43-game winning streaks. Curtis has set the standard for coaching in the state of Louisiana, and his unparalleled success has brought national attention to John Curtis Christian School. Curtis is the second-winningest coach in the history of high school football. He was twice named National Coach of the Year by USA Today. He has been inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, the National Federation of High School Athletics Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the Louisiana College Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana High School Hall of Fame.

9. Archie Manning, quarterback, New Orleans Saints (1971-1982)

Manning was the first star player in Saints franchise history. The former Ole Miss standout was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft and played 11 of his 13 seasons with the Saints. He led the Saints to an 8-8 record in 1979, the club’s first non-losing season in franchise history. He was the first Saints quarterback to earn a Pro Bowl invitation in 1978 and remains the only quarterback other than Brees to play in the league’s annual all-star game. A native of Drew, Miss., Archie and his wife, Olivia, chose to live in New Orleans after his playing career and he worked in various roles for local media outlets. His sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli, enjoyed stellar football careers at Isidore Newman School, where his grandson and namesake, Arch III, is the current starting quarterback.

10. Stanley “Skip” Bertman, coach, LSU baseball (1984-2001), athletic director, LSU (2001-2008)

Bertman didn’t just turn the LSU baseball program into a national power. He improved the popularity of the sport throughout the state and region. Under Bertman’s guidance, the Tigers won seven SEC championships, made 11 College World Series appearances and won five national titles in a 10-year period from 1991 to 2000. His .754 winning percentage in NCAA Tournament competition remains the highest in college baseball history. Bertman’s teams regularly sold out Alex Box Stadium and the Tigers led the nation in attendance in each of his final six seasons. Bertman also won an Olympic gold medal as an assistant coach for the U.S. National team in 1988 and a bronze medal as the head coach in 1996. Bertman’s spectacular success at LSU created a ripple effect throughout the state and spurred other schools to develop their baseball programs into NCAA contenders.

11. Billy Cannon, halfback-fullback-tight end, LSU (1957-1959)

Cannon etched his place in LSU football lore with his historic 89-yard punt return touchdown in LSU’s 7-3 win against Ole Miss in 1959, a play widely considered the greatest in Tigers history. He was a key member of LSU’s 1958 national champions and became the first LSU Tiger to win the Heisman Trophy the following season. During his 10-year pro career, he was a three-time AFL champion and two-time AFL All-Star. He led the AFL in rushing in 1961.

(Bill Feig / The Associated Press)

12. The Dome Patrol, linebacker unit, New Orleans Saints (1986-1992)

The famed linebacker unit was the heart and soul of the great Saints teams in the Jim Mora-Jim Finks era. The foursome of Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson, Sam Mills and Pat Swilling spearheaded a dominant defense that lifted the Saints to unprecedented success in the mid-1980s and early 1990s. They combined to make 18 Pro Bowl appearances, including 1992 when they became the first quartet from one team to make the league’s all-star game in the same year. Swilling was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1991, the only Saint to ever win the award. All four players are members of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame. Jackson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. Mills was a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist in 2020.

13. Bob Pettit, forward, Baton Rouge HS (1949-1951), LSU (1951-1954)

Pettit was the first great player in LSU men’s basketball history. He led the Tigers to consecutive SEC titles and the school’s first Final Four appearance in 1953. He was a two-time All-American and led the SEC in scoring three consecutive seasons. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft and an 11-time NBA All-Star. He was a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and led the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 NBA title. Pettit was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970 and was named to the NBA’s 50^th anniversary all-time team in 1996.

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14. Chris Paul, guard, New Orleans Hornets (2005-2011)

Paul was the first star in the Hornets era and helped generate widespread interest in the team after Hurricane Katrina. During his six-year career in New Orleans, he was a four-time All-Star selection and was named to the All-NBA team three times. In their first full season back in New Orleans after the storm, he and forward David West led the Hornets to a franchise-best 56-26 record in 2007-2008 and an appearance in the Western Conference semifinals, where they lost a seven-game series to the San Antonio Spurs.

15. Nick Saban, head coach, LSU football (2000-2004)

Saban changed the fortunes of the Tigers’ football program when he took over in 2000, taking advantage of the program’s vast resources and quickly building LSU into a national power. Saban mended relationships with state high school football coaches and effectively built a fence around talent-rich Louisiana’s borders in recruiting. The LSU football program enjoyed just three winning seasons in the 11 years before Saban arrived, but his first Tigers team went 8-4 and he won an SEC title and the Sugar Bowl in his second campaign. In Year 4, the Tigers went 13-1 and won the school’s second national title.

16. Shaquille O’Neal, center, LSU basketball (1989-1992)

The man known simply as Shaq was one of the most highly recruited players in college basketball history and brought national attention to the LSU program when he signed to play for coach Dale Brown in 1989. During his three-year career at LSU, he was a two-time All-American, two-time SEC Player of the Year and received the Adolph Rupp Trophy as college basketball’s player of the year in 1991. During his 20-year NBA career, he was a 15-time All-Star and the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1999-200. He won four NBA titles in the NBA and earned an Olympic gold medal while playing for the U.S. men’s national team in 1996.

17. Audrey “Mickey” Patterson, sprinter, Gilbert Academy (1943-46), Southern University (1949-1950)

The Gert Town Girl was a pioneer in the sport of track and field. Unbeaten as a prep and college competitor, she was a star in the 100- and 200-meter races and 400-meter relay and a national and international champion in the two individual events. In 1948, she became the first black woman to win an Olympic medal, when she finished third in the 200-meter dash in a time of 25.2 seconds. At Tennessee State University, Patterson broke the American and meet indoor records in the 200-yard race with a time of 26.4 seconds in the National AAU Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships. Later she founded and coached her own team, “Mickey’s Missiles,” in San Diego, which produced Olympic sprinters Dennis Mitchell and Jackie Thompson. Patterson was named the AAU woman athlete of the year in 1949 and was inducted into the New Orleans and Louisiana sports halls of fame in 1978 and 2000, respectively.

(Stephen Lew / USA Today)

18. D-D Breaux, head coach, LSU gymnastics (1978-present)

The dean of LSU athletic coaches, Breaux has built the Tigers gymnastics program into a national power. Her teams have made 35 appearances in the NCAA Championships, including seven Super Six appearances since 2008. Her teams have produced 15 individual national titles and regularly attract crowds of 10,000 or more fans to their Friday night meets at the Maravich Center. She has been named the SEC Coach of the Year eight times and was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Region 8 Hall of Fame in 2009 and into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

19. Mel Ott, outfielder, New York Giants (1926-1947)

The Gretna native is the greatest baseball player ever produced in the Crescent City. Despite his slight stature at 5-9, 170 pounds, he is regarded as one of the greatest left-handed hitters in baseball history. He was discovered while playing for a lumber company team in Patterson, La., shortly after high school. He went to sign a Major League contract with the New York Giants. During his illustrious 22-year career, he was a 12-time All-Star and led the National League in home runs six times. When he retired in 1947, he held the National League record for home runs (511), runs (1,859), RBI (1,860) and total bases (5,041). In 1945, he became the first National Leaguer to surpass the 500-home run threshold. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951.

20. Arnett “Ace” Mumford, coach, Southern University (1936-1961)

Before Eddie Robinson arrived on the scene at Grambling, Mumford was the undisputed king of HBCU football in the South. His Jaguars teams won or shared 11 SWAC titles and five black college national championships. He also coached the Southern men’s basketball team to the black college national championship in 1941. Thirty-five of his players earned All-American honors. He remains the all-time winningest football coach at Southern and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

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Honorable mentions (alphabetical order): Morten Andersen, Odell Beckham Jr., Lou Brock, Dale Brown, Joe Brown, Reggie Bush, Will Clark, Anthony Davis, Joe Dean, Eddie Delahoussaye, Buddy Diliberto, Alan Faneca, Marshall Faulk, Jim Finks, Peter Finney, Matt Forte, Leonard Fournette, Sylvia Fowles, Steve Gleason, Sue Gunter, Rich Jackson, Ben Jobe, Avery Johnson, Lolo Jones, Rick Jones, Mickey Loomis, Bob Love, Ron Maestri, Max Magee, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Tyrann Mathieu, Kevin Mawae, Charlie McClendon, Ben McDonald, Jim Mora, Kim Mulkey, Willie Pastrano, Richie Petitbon, Eddie Price, Ed Reed, Willie Roaf, Joe Scheurmann, Luis “Rags” Scheurmann, Danielle Scott, Clark Shaughnessy, Neil Smith, Michael Thomas, Doug Thornton, Todd Walker, Reggie Wayne, Aeneas Williams.

Subscribers’ honorable mentions: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Marques Colston, Kevin Faulk, Hap Glaudi, Ervin Johnson, Cameron Jordan, Augie Schmidt, Rusty Staub.

Staff writers Larry Holder, Will Guillory and Katherine Terrell contributed to this list.

Editor’s note: This list has been updated to include Ron Maestri, who was inadvertently omitted.

(Photo: Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images. Design: Adrian Guzman)