What it was like to play for New Orleans Saints in the 1970s

The NFL is celebrating a new era with the launch of the first ever Super Bowl 50.

And in New Orleans, it’s going to take a special team to overcome the demons of that era.

But that’s not the only team-building challenge ahead.

And it’s one that will require the best players on the planet.

Below are stories from across the NFL about players who helped shape the game.

1.

Tom Brady The New England Patriots quarterback played in New York for a decade before the team relocated to Baltimore.

He’s a native New Yorker and a diehard Saints fan, and the city has been a place of his roots ever since.

“I’m very proud to be from New York City, but also a New Englander, a New Orleans native,” Brady said.

2. “

And I still love the city, it just feels like a place I haven’t been to in a long time.”

2.

Deion Sanders Deion, left, and Deion Ringo, right, in New England in 1968.

Sanders played for the New England Jets from 1974-77, when he became the first NFL player to throw a touchdown pass in Super Bowl IV against the Baltimore Colts.

3.

Frank Gifford Frank Giffsord is one of three men to have five different teams named after him.

The other two are New York Giants linebacker Frank Gafford, who played in four NFL seasons with the Jets from 1964-67 and San Francisco 49ers defensive end George Atkinson, who started six seasons in the NFL with the Rams and 49ers before retiring in 1991.

4.

Jim Otto Otto The veteran linebacker is one half of the duo that helped lead the NFL to the playoffs for a 17th straight season in 1975.

Otto was a defensive lineman for the Saints in 1979 and 1981, and then became a tight end with the Houston Oilers in 1982.

5.

Terrell Owens Terrell was the first undrafted free agent to be drafted by the New York Jets in 1973.

He went on to make seven Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team in the later years of his career.

6.

Jim Brown The Hall of Famer, who spent three seasons with New England from 1980-82, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

He played in the Super Bowl with the New Orleans Jets in 2000.

7.

Eric Dickerson The former New York Giant and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is one-half of the two-time Super Bowl MVP duo of Jim Kelly and Kurt Warner.

8.

Dan Marino Dan Marino was one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, but he’s also a legend for the Philadelphia Eagles, who he led to the Super 16 in 2001 and the NFC title in 2004.

9.

Kevin Greene Greene Greene, left for the Green Bay Packers in 1969.

He is one part of the team that helped win the NFC Championship Game in 2004 with a 41-28 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

10.

Paul Hornung One of the great defensive backs of all time, Hornung was a key player for the Houston Texans from 1972-78.

He retired from football in 1994.

11.

Mark Wahlberg One of those players who were born and raised in New Jersey, Wahlburg is one to watch in the near future.

He made the Pro Bowl in 2007 and has had a lot to do with the development of the league’s best player, Tom Brady.

12.

Jim Kelly Kelly is a Hall of Famer who was a great defensive lineman and a starting quarterback in the New Jersey Generals.

He was inductified into the Hall of Super Bowl Legends in 2015.

13.

Greg Jennings Greg Jennings is a former New England quarterback, and he’s one of several great players from that era to have played in Super.

14.

Troy Aikman Troy Aigman, left.

was a Hall Of Famer and was the longest tenured player in the league.

He left the New Mexico Sun Devils after the 2007 season to become a coach with the Kansas City Royals.

15.

Joe Montana Joe Montana was a starting offensive lineman for four seasons with Seattle.

He won the Superbowl with the Seahawks in 2006.

16.

Joe Namath Joe Namatihas final season with the Saints.

He passed away in 2013.

17.

Eric Lindros Lindros, left in the second half of Super Sunday.

He will be inducted by the NFL Hall of Honor in 2018.

18.

Tom Coughlin Tom Cufflin, left at halftime of Superbowl 50 in 2014 in New Mexico.

He led the Giants to a Super Bowl victory in the 1996 season.

19.

Bill Polian The Hall Of Fame coach of the New St. Louis Cardinals and the Baltimore Ravens is one person who can help change