Saints’ return to the Superdome: ‘Domecoming’ remembered 20 years later
NEW ORLEANS, WXXV— Twenty years ago today, the Gulf South witnessed one of the most memorable nights in sports history.
On Sept. 25, 2006, the New Orleans Saints returned to the Superdome for the first time since Hurricane Katrina, hosting the rival Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football.
The highly anticipated “Domecoming” marked more than just the Saints’ return home. For New Orleans and communities across the Gulf Coast still recovering from Katrina’s devastation, it served as a powerful symbol of resilience, recovery and hope.
In front of a sold-out crowd, the Saints delivered a moment that would become etched in NFL history.
On the Falcons’ opening possession, Saints safety Steve Gleason burst through the line and blocked a punt, setting up New Orleans’ first touchdown of the night and igniting an emotional crowd inside the Superdome.
The Saints went on to defeat Atlanta 23-3, improving to 3-0 and giving a recovering region a night it would never forget.
Over the past two decades, Gleason’s iconic blocked punt has become one of the most recognizable plays in franchise history. The game itself has grown into a lasting symbol of New Orleans’ comeback following Hurricane Katrina and remains one of the defining moments in Gulf South sports.
For many Saints fans, “Domecoming” was about far more than football. It represented a city reclaiming part of its identity and a region finding strength during its recovery.
Twenty years later, the Saints’ return to the Superdome continues to stand as one of the most significant and emotional moments in New Orleans sports history.
