2003 New Orleans Saints season

The 2003 season was the New Orleans Saints' 37th in the National Football League and their 28th playing home games at the Louisiana Superdome. They failed to improve on their 9–7 record from 2002 and finished with a record of 8–8.[1] This was the season of the River City Relay, a play that has gone down in NFL lore from a week 16 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Saints were 7–7 and needed a victory to keep their postseason hopes alive. The Jaguars held a 20–13 lead with seven seconds left in regulation, and the Saints had possession on their own 25. In a scene evoking memories of The Play, Aaron Brooks passed to Donté Stallworth for 42 yards, Stallworth lateraled to Michael Lewis for 7 yards, Lewis lateraled to Deuce McAllister for 5 yards, and McAllister lateraled to Jerome Pathon for 21 yards and a touchdown. The score was 20–19, leaving only the extra point to force overtime. However, in an unlikely twist, John Carney, who in his career made 98.4% of extra points attempted and had not missed one in a full decade, inexplicably missed the kick wide right, causing the Saints to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

2003 New Orleans Saints season
Head coachJim Haslett
General managerMickey Loomis
OwnerTom Benson
Home fieldLouisiana Superdome
Results
Record8–8
Division place2nd NFC South
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersG LeCharles Bentley
RB Deuce McAllister
AP All-ProsRB Deuce McAllister (1st team)

Offseason

NFL Draft
Main article: 2003 NFL Draft
2003 New Orleans Saints draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 6 Johnathan Sullivan  Defensive tackle Georgia
2 37 Jon Stinchcomb *  Offensive tackle Georgia
3 86 Cie Grant  Linebacker Ohio State
4 102 Montrae Holland  Guard Florida State
5 155 Melvin Williams  Defensive end Kansas State
6 203 Kareem Kelly  Wide receiver USC
7 231 Talman Gardner  Wide receiver Florida State
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Personnel

Staff
2003 New Orleans Saints staff
Front office
  • Owner – Tom Benson
  • Executive Vice President/General Manager – Mickey Loomis
  • Senior Football Administrator – Russ Ball
  • Director of Player Personnel – Rick Mueller
  • College Scouting Coordinator – Rick Thompson

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – Al Everest

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Rock Gullickson
  • Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Jerry Palmieri

Roster
2003 New Orleans Saints final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics
 active, inactive, practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

During the 2003 regular season, the Saints’ non-divisional conference opponents were primarily from the NFC East, although they also played the Seattle Seahawks from the NFC West, and the Chicago Bears from the NFC North. Their non-conference opponents were from the AFC South.

Week Date Opponent Result TV Time (CT) Attendance
1 September 7, 2003 at Seattle Seahawks L 27–10 FOX 3:15 pm
52,250
2 September 14, 2003 Houston Texans W 31–10 CBS 12:00 pm
68,390
3 September 21, 2003 at Tennessee Titans L 27–12 FOX 12:00 pm
68,809
4 September 28, 2003 Indianapolis Colts L 55–21 ESPN 7:37 pm
70,020
5 October 5, 2003 at Carolina Panthers L 19–13 FOX 12:00 pm
72,496
6 October 12, 2003 Chicago Bears W 20–13 FOX 12:00 pm
68,390
7 October 19, 2003 at Atlanta Falcons W 45–17 FOX 12:00 pm
70,837
8 October 26, 2003 Carolina Panthers L 23–20 FOX 12:00 pm
68,370
9 November 2, 2003 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 17–14 FOX 12:00 pm
65,524
10 Bye
11 November 16, 2003 Atlanta Falcons W 23–20 FOX 12:00 pm
68,432
12 November 23, 2003 at Philadelphia Eagles L 33–20 FOX 12:00 pm
67,802
13 November 30, 2003 at Washington Redskins W 24–20 FOX 3:05 pm
76,821
14 December 7, 2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 14–7 FOX 12:00 pm
68,442
15 December 14, 2003 New York Giants W 45–7 ESPN 7:36 pm
68,399
16 December 21, 2003 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 20–19 FOX 12:00 pm
49,207
17 December 28, 2003 Dallas Cowboys W 13–7 FOX 12:00 pm
68,451

Standings
NFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(3) Carolina Panthers 11 5 0 .688 5–1 9–3 325 304 W3
New Orleans Saints 8 8 0 .500 3–3 7–5 340 326 W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7 9 0 .438 2–4 6–6 301 264 L2
Atlanta Falcons 5 11 0 .313 2–4 4–8 299 422 W2

References
  1. 2003 New Orleans Saints
  2. "2003 New Orleans Saints Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
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