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Before the Saints Had a Legacy, an HBCU Bulldog Made History on the Very First Play

September 4, 2026 Brandon King

September 17, 1967. The New Orleans Saints were playing the first regular-season game in franchise history. Before the Super Bowl appearances. Before the Pro Bowlers. Before the records, legends and decades of Saints football… There was John Gilliam. A rookie out of South Carolina State College. The opening kickoff was sent his way. Gilliam caught it. Then he took off. 94 YARDS. TOUCHDOWN. On the very first play of the New Orleans Saints’ first regular-season game, John Gilliam became the player who scored the first touchdown in franchise history. Think…

Saints rook Trevor Penning booted from practice for a third straight day

August 3, 2022August 3, 2022 Brandon King

New Orleans Saints rookie offensive lineman had an early ending to practice for the third consecutive day. The first round pick, who was taken 19th overall out of Northern Iowa, has been shown the door in the team’s last three practices for starting fights. Per reporting from NFL writer Dov Kleiman and Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith, the latest offense took place during Wednesday’s OTAs. Smith notes that Monday was a doubleheader, with Penning getting into bouts with defensive end Payton Turner and defensive end Taco Charlton. Tuesday’s opponents…