The New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame will induct its 2018 class of RB Pierre Thomas and WR Lance Moore during a ceremony on September 14 at Club XLIV, the team announced Thursday.
Thomas began his Saints career as an undrafted free agent from Illinois in 2007. He soon blossomed into one of Drew Brees’s most reliable weapons, and his versatility became an integral part of a dominant offensive attack. His career in New Orleans spanned eight years, as he appeared in 105 games, 41 of which were starts. Thomas averaged 4.6 yards per carry, rushing for 3,745 yards and 28 touchdowns on 818 totes, and he caught 327 passes for 2,608 yards and 12 touchdowns. His most significant catch was the first touchdown in Saints Super Bowl history, as he reeled in a screen from Brees and alluded defenders for a 16-yard score to put the Saints up 12-10. Thomas’s career yards from scrimmage (6,353) are the seventh-most in franchise history, and his career rushing yards rank fourth. His 41 total touchdowns are eighth in Saints history.
Moore’s nine seasons donning black and gold began in 2005 when he was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Toledo. Known for his funky, swaggering touchdown celebrations as well as for his reliable receiving ability in the slot, Moore caught 346 passes for 4,281 yards and 38 touchdowns in his 101 games as a Saint. The highlight of his career is a diving, acrobatic grab in Super Bowl XLIV on a two-point conversion score that put the Saints ahead 24-17. His career receptions and touchdown receptions each rank fifth in franchise history, and his career receiving yards total resides at seventh.
Both Moore and Thomas were the Saints’ nominees for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, a distinction based on a player’s excellence on and off the field, in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
This year’s recipient of the Joe Gemelli “Fleur de Lis” award is Saints Director of Photography and Vice President of the team’s Hall of Fame Michael C. Hebert. Hebert, a New Orleans native, joined the Saints organization in 1997.
