Life is never boring in New Orleans. There is always something happening, and it sometimes feels like no one knows what is going to happen next. For many in the Big Easy, that makes the city an exciting and dynamic place to be. But it does mean that when things are bad, they get a little chaotic – and that is especially true of the city’s sports teams at the current time.
There are two major league teams that call the city home, as well as a number of other minor league pro teams, and some collegiate athletic programs. There has been some success from the college teams in the last few years, but there won’t be many of the best Alabama betting apps offering the Saints or Pelicans to win a championship anytime soon.
So, is there any hope for New Orleans sports? Can the major league teams really improve anytime soon? Or should we get used to relying on our college football and basketball teams to provide some good news? In this article, we will take a look at the state of sports in New Orleans and suggest why it is still always good being a local fan.
Championship History
If you are a New Orleans sports fan, you might well be pretty down about everything right now. The Saints have just endured yet another losing season, and the Pelicans look like they will end up with the worst record in the entire NBA this year. It is difficult to find the light in the midst of all that sporting darkness.
But things could be worse. There are plenty of cities that don’t even have a major league team – and some that do have never celebrated a national championship. The Pelicans are only 24 years old, so there is still time for them to improve. But Saints fans don’t have to go too far back to remember winning a Super Bowl.
The 2009 season came at a time when the city was still getting to grips with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and that Super Bowl XLIV win over the Colts was celebrated on a wide scale. Just one championship in the history of the city might be seen as a disappointing statistic, but it also puts into perspective the current form of the pro teams in New Orleans.
The Saints Did Improve, At Least
First, the good news. As bad as you think the Saints were this year, they did actually improve on last season. It wasn’t much, but the team ended with six wins – one more than in 2024. Unfortunately, it took a late season rally to even get to that number. For the majority of the year, the Saints looked like they might end up being the worst team in football.
The four-win streak near the end of the year was the longest since 2020 and means that there is a little more thinking to be done ahead of the draft. Most football experts agree that there is improvement needed in just about every position, but a go-to WR or RB is probably at the top of the list. There should be a chance to get something in the draft, so there is hope for next season.
The big point to make here is that the Saints find themselves in probably the weakest division in the entire league. No other team managed more than nine wins this season – and the Saints finished with a 3-3 against the NFC South. Only a small win total boost could put the Saints in the postseason again, therefore. So even after another losing year, it does not have to be all doom and gloom at the Superdome.
The Pelicans Need a Reset
Part of the reason why fans might feel so despondent about the Saints is that there is no good news sports team in the city right now. The Pelicans don’t have quite as much history as the Saints, but there have only been two playoff series in the last seven years, with just two postseason games won in that same period.
A lot of pressure has been put on the shoulders of Zion Williamson. Not every number one draft pick goes on to be a star, but they commonly transform the fortunes of their new team. That hasn’t really been the case with Zion, and much of that has been down to the fact that he has missed so many games.
Drafted in 2019, he has only played over 60 games in a year twice and missed an entire season at one point. The good news here is that he has already seen more game time during the current year than in the majority of his pro career – and it is only halfway through.
As much as it has been good to see Zion on the court, the Pelicans are still not winning. That is why the team seriously needs to consider a trade before the deadline – while he is still a valuable asset – and look to the future with a bunch of first-round picks to use. This season is over already anyway.
New Orleans is a Sports City
Where it might seem from the current state of affairs – and our low-energy reading of both teams’ chances – that New Orleans sports is in a bad place, there is no doubt that the Big Easy is still a sports city. The fans will always stay loyal to their teams, and that makes the atmosphere on game day something other cities can only dream of.
Add to that the fortunes of Tulane football and the recent success of both Dillard and Loyola in college hoops, and things could be a lot worse for New Orleans sports. The fans might be dreaming of a championship, but the way sports is loved in the Big Easy makes up for what we all hope is just a momentary blip in results.
