"THEY WERE SAINTS": DAVE WAYMER

Photo Courtesy of: Saints Hall of Fame

 5/5/2020
By: Terrill J. Weil
Da Boot Sports!


       The Saints drafted defensive back Dave Waymer out of Notre Dame with their second round pick in the 1980 NFL draft. During his ten years with the Saints Waymer played corner back in 149 games, starting 131 of them and totaled 37 interceptions. 
      In 1983 he was offered a contract by the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL), but opted to remain in New Orleans, saying, "I always wanted to play there. I've got a lot of friends there, and that is where, hopefully, I'll finish out my career."
         He will always be remembered as one of the best defensive backs to ever suite up for the black and gold and for making one of the greatest plays in franchise history. On November 29, 1987, the Saints battled the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium. On the final play of the game with New Orleans holding onto a 20-16 lead, the Steelers had the ball at the Saints 11-yard line for the final play and Waymer intercepted Steelers QB Mark Malone to improve the Saints to 8-3 and guarantee the franchise's first winning season ever. 
      Waymer would end up playing for the San Francisco 49ers in 1990 and 1991 and then the Los Angeles Raiders in 1992.
     During the 1993 offseason, Waymer died on April 30, 1993, at the age of 34, from a heart attack induced by cocaine use.