Jim Mora

Sport: Coach

Induction Year: 2003

Induction Year: 2003

The first successful coach in New Orleans Saints history, holding the job for 10 ½ years (1986-96), Jim Mora transformed the franchise’s fortunes. He coached the Saints to their first winning season, to four playoff appearances and an overall record of 93-74 for a franchise that had never seen postseason or a better than .500 record. In his second season, 1987, Mora was named NFL Coach of the Year after leading the Saints to a franchise-best 12-3 record and the playoffs for the first time. Mora got his first head coaching shot in the USFL, where he led the Philadelphia Stars to consecutive league championships before departing for the NFL. He brought USFL standouts Bobby Hebert and Sam Mills with him to New Orleans, and coupled with shrewd personnel moves by Mora and general manager Jim Finks, new owner Tom Benson was able to celebrate unprecedented success for the team.