Best New Orleans Saints Draft Choices From FBS Schools: Missouri

Who is the best player the New Orleans Saints ever drafted from the Missouri Tigers?

From May 1 until the start of the 2016 NFL season on September 11, we’re going to list the best players that the Saints ever drafted from all 128 FBS schools, as of 2015.

Of course, there are a number of schools, including Air Force, Appalachian St., Arizona, Army, Baylor, Boise St., Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Florida, Central Michigan, East Carolina, FAU, FIU, Hawaii, ULM, Miami (Ohio), Marshall, Middle Tennessee, and South Alabama, in which the Saints have never drafted a player.

Yesterday, we looked at the best player the Saints ever drafted from Mississippi St.

Today, we spotlight the best player the Saints ever drafted from Missouri.

When it comes to selecting the best player the Saints ever drafted from Missouri, the choice is limited to running back Charlie Brown (1967), offensive lineman Brad Edelman (1982), defensive back Mike Fink (1973), running back Tony Galbreath (1976), running back Marcus Murphy (2015), defensive back Johnnie Poe (1981), offensive lineman J.T. Taylor (1978).

The pick is going to be Galbreath, a running back/fullback, who played for the Saints for five years, from 1976-1980.

After finishing his college career at Missouri, Galbreath was selected by the Saints in the second round of the 1976 NFL Draft.

A native of Fulton, Missouri, Galbreath made an immediate impact as a rookie, rushing for 570 yards and 7 touchdowns, as part of the backfield labeled “Thunder & Lightning” with fellow rookie Chuck Muncie.

Galbreath continued his steady play over the next three seasons, rushing for at least 600 yards, with 173 receptions to go with it, including 74 catches in 1978, which ranked second in the league.

After playing with the Saints for five seasons, Galbreath was, at the time, #2 in all-time rushing yards for the team.

He still ranks 8th in rushing yards, and 9th in receptions in team history.

Galbreath was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 1981, where he played for three years, before going to the New York Giants, where he played for four years, prior to retiring after the 1987 season

When his career came to an end, Galbreath had 490 receptions, the most by a running back in the history of the NFL.

In five seasons with the Saints, Galbreath compiled 2,865 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns, while totaling 284 catches for 2,221 yards and 6 touchdowns.

In 12 seasons in the NFL, Galbreath accumulated 4,072 rushing yards, to go along with 34 touchdowns, while catching 490 passes for 4.066 yards and 9 scores.

Galbreath was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 1991.