Lorenzo Neal’s 69-yard touchdown catch still jumps off the screen, and on a day that lands 69 days before the start of the New Orleans Saints’ 2026 regular season, it fits perfectly as the Saints Play of the Day.
It’s the kind of play that makes you stop and watch again. A fullback hauling in a 69-yard touchdown isn’t something you see every day, and Neal made it count in a road game against the New England Patriots. At that point, the score was tied 17-17, and Neal’s catch finally put New Orleans in front.
The finish came a few minutes later when teammate Mario Bates ripped off a 66-yard touchdown run to put the game away. But Neal’s score was the one that cracked things open, and the blocking in front of him made the whole thing work. Saints receivers did the heavy lifting at the second level, and a late block from wide receiver Michael Haynes cleared the last bit of traffic for Neal to get into the open field.
That was the difference in a 31-17 Saints win, and it was the kind of effort that made Neal a favorite with fans. He wrapped up his career with 204 receptions while appearing in 250 games, including the playoffs. In a more pass-heavy era, you can only wonder how much more damage he might have done.
Still, the broader recognition came later. Neal bounced from team to team after 1996, his final season in New Orleans, until he landed with the San Diego Chargers in 2003 and, as fate had it, a young Drew Brees.
That’s where he picked up three of his four Pro Bowl selections and also earned All-Pro honors. Saints fans, though, already knew exactly what kind of player he was.
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