The Dark Secret Behind the New Orleans Saints

TLDRThe New Orleans Saints had a dark secret during their playoff run in 2012. Defensive coordinator Greg Williams held team meetings where he instructed the players to injure opposing players. This bounty program targeted quarterbacks and star players, offering rewards for injuring them. The Saints faced accusations and an NFL investigation, resulting in severe penalties for the team.

Key insights

🏈The New Orleans Saints had a bounty program in place during their playoff run in 2012.

🤕Defensive coordinator Greg Williams instructed his players to injure opposing players, especially quarterbacks and star players.

💰The bounty program offered rewards for injuring opposing players, with higher payouts for key opponents.

⚖️The bounty program led to accusations and an NFL investigation, resulting in severe penalties for the Saints organization.

🏆Despite the scandal, the Saints went on to win the Super Bowl, but the dark secret behind their success came to light later.

Q&A

What was the purpose of the bounty program?

The purpose of the bounty program was to incentivize players to injure opposing players, specifically quarterbacks and star players.

Who was involved in the bounty program?

Defensive coordinator Greg Williams was the mastermind behind the bounty program, and it involved players from the New Orleans Saints.

What were the consequences of the bounty program?

The bounty program led to severe penalties for the New Orleans Saints, including suspensions for coaches and players, fines, and loss of draft picks.

Did the Saints win the Super Bowl during this time?

Yes, despite the bounty scandal, the New Orleans Saints went on to win the Super Bowl in 2012.

How did the bounty program come to light?

The bounty program was initially brought to the attention of the NFL by an anonymous source, leading to an investigation and eventual punishment for the Saints.

Timestamped Summary

00:01On January 14, 2012, the New Orleans Saints faced off against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round.

00:23Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams held a team meeting where he instructed the players to injure opposing players, particularly quarterbacks and star players.

02:56The bounty program offered rewards for injuring opposing players, with higher payouts for key opponents.

05:41The bounty program led to accusations and an NFL investigation, resulting in severe penalties for the Saints organization.

08:17Despite the scandal, the Saints went on to win the Super Bowl in 2012.

09:58The bounty program was brought to the attention of the NFL by an anonymous source, leading to an investigation and punishment for the Saints.