When the New Orleans Saints met the Houston Oilers in the Super Dome during the 1983 NFL Preseason, Saint fan where treated to a strange sight. Long-time Oakland Raider (and former Houston Oiler) Quarterback Kenny Stabler in Black & Gold while New Orleans favorite Archie Manning was leading the visiting team.
Archie Manning had been traded away the previous season after 11 hard years in New Orleans was traded to Houston for Offensive Tackle Leon Gray. Head coach Bum Phillips reasoning were pretty simple. “I need an offensive tackle and Archie doesn’t tackle”. Leon Gray would last all of 1 year in New Orleans. Kenny Stabler had quarterbacked Raiders teams to Super Bowl victories but now he was quarterbacking Saint’s team, but not to near as many victories. He played in New Orleans a total of 3 seasons.
Meeting before a 1983 preseason game, former Saint Quarterback Archie Manning shakes hands with the present Saints Quarterback Kenny Stabler.
Archie Manning, after 11 years in a Saint uniform, Kenny Stabler’s time was a little shorter – 3 years.
