Sean Payton led the New Orleans Saints to their only Super Bowl win in the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31–17 in Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010, earning the first championship in franchise history.
New Orleans went 13–3 in the regular season, secured the NFC’s top seed, and then won three postseason games. The Saints beat the Arizona Cardinals 45–14, the Minnesota Vikings 31–28 in overtime, and Indianapolis in the Super Bowl. Quarterback Drew Brees was named Super Bowl MVP.
The year can cause confusion: the championship game was played in 2010, but it crowned the 2009 NFL season. The victory was also especially significant for New Orleans, giving the city its first major professional sports championship.