​There are 64 days separating us from the New Orleans Saints’ 2026 season opener against the Detroit Lions, and in that stretch this 64-yard touchdown stands as our Saints Play of the Day. It’s one of the quirkiest scores in team history from this distance, so let’s dive in. You can watch the moment right here.
Back in 2003, New Orleans jumped out to a 17-7 lead over the New York Giants, who were lining up for a 43-yard field goal to trim the deficit before halftime. But the bid failed. Defensive lineman Kenny Smith knocked the kick aside, and the ball rolled to safety Fred Thomas, who scooped it up and sprinted the other way.
“Look at this new carpet in here, it’s a little grabby,” play-by-play announcer Mike Patrick remarked. “It’s blocked, and the Saints are gonna get a touchdown!” The return doubled the Saints’ advantage to 23-7, and at that point the Giants seemed to fade. A 4-win team that year, they were tanking in hopes of landing quarterback Eli Manning, the son of New Orleans legend Archie Manning, and the game ultimately became a lopsided 45-7 victory that aided their draft position. The kicking miscue belonged to second-year pro Matt Bryant, who would continue to chase a stable NFL path before finding lasting success with the Atlanta Falcons, including a Pro Bowl nod in 2016. This wasn’t Bryant’s only misstep at the Superdome, but it’s the one that’s often recalled when people recount the day.
Yet for all the drama around the touchdown itself, the day carried a sting for controversy as Saints star Joe Horn drew headlines with an infamous post-score celebration. After catching a 13-yard TD in the second quarter, Horn slipped a mobile phone from his gear and, as he later explained, called his children to remind them to watch the game from home with the family.
As for the man of the hour, Fred Thomas had joined the Saints a few years earlier after beginning his career with the Seattle Seahawks. He would become a Saints lifer, appearing in 109 games in black and gold. 2003 proved to be a landmark year for him: beyond the 64-yard return, Thomas intercepted four passes, logged a career-high 22 pass deflections, forced two fumbles, and recovered another. He was a cornerstone of Jim Haslett’s defense, and that long TD return remains one of the standout moments of his tenure with the Saints.
(mid-2000s photo sidebar) METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Tyler Shough, #6 of the New Orleans Saints, participates in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026, in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
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