Buford Jordan 1986-1992

• Billy Kilmer
• Chuck Muncie
• Dick Nolan
• Derland Moore
• Morten Andersen
• Archie Manning
• The Dome Patrol
• Buford Jordan
• Dave Whitsell
• Jake Kupp
• Sammy Knight

During the Mora years, the Saints had more than their share of unsung heros. One of those heros was a fullback from McNeese named Buford Jordan.

A four-time All-Southland Conference selection, Jordan left McNeesse in 1983 as the All-time leading rusher in Louisiana history. He joined the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL and was the leading rusher in 1984 with 1276 yards and 8 TDs on the ground.

When the USFL folded in 1985, Jordan wound up with New Orleans and started 9 games for Jim Mora’s crew, mostly as a blocker for Dalton Hillard and Rueben Mayes. And while his career in New Orleans could hardly be termed spectacular, he was a solid special teams performer who had his share of big plays.

In the 1987 comeback against Cincinnatti, he scored two touchdowns. In 1988, he had a 44 yard run against Atlanta and in the Washington game, he scooped up a Rueben Mayes fumbled and turned it into a 7 yard score. In 1989, despite being hampered by injuries, he finished third in rushing and had another 2 touchdown-day against Atlanta. Jordan was actually released prior to the beginning of the 1991 season, but returned and started in place of an injured Craig Heyward for the second half of the season.

I once received an email from a woman in New Orleans that told me that Buford would frequent a diner where her mother worked as a waitress and Buford got to be good friends with the elderly lady. Over time the woman lost her sight and was unable to get around. Buford would regularly visit the disabled woman and read to her from her Bible because she no longer could.