Superdome 20-Year Anniversary
New Orleans Saints celebrate 20-year post-Katrina Superdome return facing Atlanta Falcons
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Key Points
1
The Superdome return came 392 days after Hurricane Katrina. During the 2005 season, the Saints played home games at three venues: Giants Stadium, the Alamodome and Tiger Stadium.
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The 23-3 win over Atlanta moved New Orleans to 3-0 in a season that ended with the franchise’s first-ever appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
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Steve Gleason will serve as an honorary captain, take the field and lead the “Who Dat” chant during the anniversary game.
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The Saints Cheer Krewe will perform a special routine that revives “The Saints Are Coming.”
The New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night for a game steeped in history and emotion. Twenty years ago, on September 25, 2006, the same two teams played in the Superdome's triumphant reopening after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city TSN. The Saints won that game 23-3, a victory that became a symbol of New Orleans' resilience and recovery.
Monday's anniversary celebration will feature a second-line parade, live music from Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, and tributes to the 2006 team Saints. Steve Gleason, whose blocked punt sparked the original Domecoming, will serve as an honorary captain and lead the "Who Dat" chant before the game.
From Exile to Historic Return
Hurricane Katrina forced the Saints to abandon New Orleans for the entire 2005 season. The team split home games across three cities: Giants Stadium in New Jersey, the Alamodome in San Antonio, and Tiger Stadium in Louisiana TSN. The franchise had never hosted a playoff game outside the Superdome before.
On September 25, 2006, the Saints returned home after 392 days away. The Falcons came to town, and New Orleans won decisively, 23-3 TSN. That victory launched the Saints to a 3-0 start and eventually their first-ever NFC Championship Game appearance.
The Blocked Punt That Changed Everything
The defining moment came on the field when Steve Gleason blocked an Atlanta punt. Curtis Deloatch recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown TSN. That play became the emotional centerpiece of the Domecoming and remains iconic in Saints history.
Gleason, now a Saints legend, will be back at the Superdome on Monday night as an honorary captain Saints. He will take the field and lead the crowd in the famous "Who Dat" chant. His presence carries the weight of that moment and the city's comeback story.
Music and Pageantry Honor the City
The Saints have planned an elaborate pregame celebration featuring a second-line parade and live performances Saints. Gospel legend Irma Thomas will sing the national anthem, connecting the moment to New Orleans' rich musical heritage.
Halftime will showcase Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue alongside other New Orleans and national artists Saints. The Saints Cheer Krewe will perform a special routine reviving "The Saints Are Coming," a song that became an anthem during the city's recovery.
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