The New Orleans Saints is a professional football team founded in 1967 by John W. Mecom Jr. and David Dixon. They are based in New Orleans, Louisiana, and are members of the National Football League. Approval for the team was awarded in 1966 and it was named after the famous jazz song often identified with New Orleans called 'When the Saints Go Marching In'. The team's announcement and its name revealed on November 1st, also known as All Saints' Day in the Catholic church. Originally the team was a member of the Eastern Conference but in 1970 became a member of the National Football Conference West; today the team is a member of the National Football Conference South