New Orleans Saints Logo PNG
Among the emblems of American football teams, the New Orleans Saints logo stands out for its historical significance. The team’s heraldic visual representation, showcased in minimalist, sleek simplicity, is a nod to the region’s history and its French founders.
New Orleans Saints: Brand overview
The New Orleans Saints are a professional football team and a member of the National Football League (NFL), representing the NFC South Division. Officially founded in 1967, the team was established in 1966. The team is based in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The franchise was initiated by New Orleans entrepreneur Dave Dixon, who made an informal deal with Congressman Hale Boggs, Senator Russell Long, and NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle. The founding group also included John W. Mecom Jr. and residents of New Orleans, who managed the club until 1985.
Subsequently, businessman Tom Benson bought the club. This happened due to Senator Edwin Edwards’ statement that the New Orleans Saints were on the brink of being sold and might have to relocate to Jacksonville, Florida. Recognizing the potential for disaster, especially during a deep economic downturn caused by unstable oil prices, Benson announced his intention to buy the franchise. The NFL approved his decision on May 31, 1985. Later, his successor, Gayle Benson, took over as the club’s manager and has owned it since 2018.
The team’s name was decided based on fan votes organized by the New Orleans authorities. However, it would have been named “Saints” regardless, as NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle announced its establishment on November 1st — All Saints Day. The city’s jazz heritage, epitomized by the famous tune “When the Saints Go Marching In,” also played a significant role.
Meaning and History
The New Orleans Saints’ logo depicts the same graphic as the city. The Fleur-de-lis (the design element’s name) pays homage to the French founders of the metropolis. The heraldic lily is found on several coats of arms in France and other European countries. The franchise adopted its modern version, minimalist and beautifully simple. The primary color palette of the logo includes black, white, and old gold.
What is New Orleans Saints?
The New Orleans Saints are one of two NFL teams to have won the Super Bowl in just one game. The team has been part of the NFC South since 2002. It was established in 1966 and, for the first couple of decades, consistently lost: it didn’t make the playoffs for twenty seasons. In 1987, the situation stabilized, and the football club earned its first record.
1967 – 1999
During this period, the club used a stylish lily, a symbol associated with New Orleans and the French royal family, particularly the globally renowned House of Bourbon. The first version of the New Orleans Saints logo was executed in black with a black and white outline: the bright inner line was wide, while the dark outer line was narrow.
2000 – 2001
In 2000, the fleur-de-lis design was updated. Compared to its predecessor, it became clearer and more expressive. A golden hue complemented the black color. Dark outlines were increased and became much wider.
2002 – 2011
This version of the New Orleans Saints logo features a slightly different shade of old gold. The logo was given a platinum finish, lending it a dignified patina of age. Otherwise, the graphic elements remained the same in style and size.
2012 – 2016
In 2012, the logo’s color palette was revised again, with the tones muted. Now, the golden heraldic symbol looks even more mature, befitting the theme of the French royal house.
2017 – today
The modern Fleur-de-lis has a light shade of old gold. The new New Orleans Saints logo is almost indistinguishable from the previous one. The only difference is an additional tone added to the color intensity. The lily’s outer lines are wide, while the inner contour is narrow.
Font and Colors
The New Orleans Saints logo resonates with the city’s coat of arms, featuring the so-called fleur-de-lis — a Bourbon lily made up of three petals. In many cultures, it symbolizes royal authority and high social status. In heraldry, the flower represents honesty, justice, and hope.
The emblem is minimalist, featuring only the fleur-de-lis. The graphic has five variations used at different times. The first and last versions are very similar, except for the updated color palette and minor differences in the line length and width. The modern lily has a more compact form than it did in 1967.
The designers didn’t develop a specific font for the New Orleans Saints, opting to focus solely on the graphic part of the logo. Proportions, perfect symmetry, deep symbolism, and a harmonious color selection compensate for the absence of text.
The fleur-de-lis base is painted in a shade of baked milk. The 2017 emblem is warmer than the one used from 2012. The outlines are traditionally wide and black, with a white stripe separating the two dark lines in the frame.