/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13938317/154889196.0.jpg)
Despite Tom Benson nearly moving the New Orleans Saints franchise to San Antonio in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, it was actually he who helped save the franchise from a similar move in the mid-80s.
That's right, Tom Benson helped keep the Saints in New Orleans by purchasing the team from John Mecom in 1985. Jacksonville was a possible location for the franchise under the Mecom ownership. There was a public flirtation before Benson stepped up and preserved the team in his hometown by purchasing the franchise for the sale price of $70.204 million.
On May 31st, 1985, ownership was officially transferred to Benson, who also became managing general partner of the Saints.