New Orleans lives and breathes the Saints, but as the city gears up for the Super Bowl, a dark shadow looms over the franchise.

Explosive revelations now link Saints executives to a coordinated effort to help the Archdiocese of New Orleans control the media narrative surrounding its sexual abuse crisis.

At first, the team claimed minimal involvement. But leaked internal emails tell a different story—one of deep, strategic engagement, with Saints executives crafting messaging, coaching church officials, and influencing public perception to protect the Archdiocese.

So the question now isn’t whether the Saints helped the church. The question is how high up this involvement goes—and whether Gayle Benson knew or approved of it.

And if she did, could the NFL force her out, like it did with other controversial owners?

Related: The Saints and the Confederacy

The Saints’ Emails: Cover-Up or Crisis Management?

The Saints’ initial stance on the Archdiocese’s clergy abuse scandal was simple:

“We played no role beyond offering basic public relations advice.”

But internal emails tell a far different story.

Leaked communications show that Saints President Dennis Lauscha and VP of Communications Greg Bensel didn’t just offer basic PR guidance—they actively worked to shield the Archdiocese from media scrutiny.

Some of their actions included:

• Advising the Archdiocese on which reporters to avoid.
• Drafting media talking points for Archbishop Gregory Aymond.
• Shaping public messaging to deflect blame and limit reputational damage.
• Strategizing how to handle the release of the Archdiocese’s “credibly accused” priest list.

These are not the actions of a neutral observer. These are the actions of a strategic partner in damage control.

The biggest issue? Saints management originally denied this level of involvement.

But the emails prove that at least two of the franchise’s most powerful executives were involved—and possibly more.

Which brings us back to the biggest question of all: Where was Gayle Benson in all of this?

Gayle Benson’s Connection to the Church

If this were just any NFL team, the controversy might have faded. But this is Gayle Benson’s team.

Benson, a devout Catholic, has deep personal and financial ties to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. She has donated millions to church causes, and her late husband, Tom Benson, was one of the most powerful Catholic philanthropists in the region.

Benson and Archbishop Aymond are close. Very close.

The issue isn’t just that Saints executives helped the Archdiocese. It’s that Benson’s franchise appears to have operated as an extension of the Church’s crisis management team.

So, can she claim plausible deniability?

Maybe. But history tells us that when these scandals start unraveling, deniability doesn’t last forever.

And the NFL is watching.

When the NFL and NBA Forced Owners to Sell

If the Saints scandal continues growing, there’s precedent for the NFL stepping in.

Three recent examples from professional sports stand out:

Washington Commanders: Dan Snyder’s Downfall (2023)

• Multiple investigations uncovered toxic workplace culture, sexual harassment, and financial misconduct under Snyder’s ownership.
• Snyder denied wrongdoing, but pressure from Congress, sponsors, and fellow owners forced the NFL’s hand.
• Facing an inevitable ouster, Snyder sold the team for $6.05 billion—a record at the time.

Carolina Panthers: Jerry Richardson’s Scandal (2017)

• Accusations surfaced that Richardson sexually harassed female employees and used racial slurs in the workplace.
• At first, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stayed quiet, hoping it would pass.
• But public pressure mounted. The league launched an investigation and fined Richardson $2.75 million.
• Under pressure, Richardson announced he would sell the team.

Los Angeles Clippers: Donald Sterling’s Racist Rant (2014)

• A leaked recording captured Sterling making racist comments about Black players.
• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver initially hesitated but quickly realized the firestorm wasn’t dying down.
• Silver banned Sterling for life, fined him $2.5 million, and forced him to sell.

The common thread?

• At first, league officials backed the owner.
• Then more evidence surfaced.
• Then the leagues had no choice but to act.

Could this happen to Gayle Benson? Right now, there’s no direct link tying her to the Saints’ PR efforts for the church. But history suggests that if damaging information keeps surfacing, public pressure could become too much.

And when that happens, owners don’t last long.

Final Question: Is This Enough to Remove Gayle Benson?

So far, there’s no direct evidence linking Benson to the Saints’ crisis management efforts for the Archdiocese.

But the Richardson and Sterling cases show that scandals like these don’t go away quietly.

If more emails surface, if a whistleblower comes forward, if a Saints executive reveals deeper involvement—this could snowball.

And when it does, the NFL will have to respond.

This Scandal Isn’t Over—It’s Just Beginning

History has shown that when powerful people try to control the media, the truth always comes out.

Reporters will keep digging. Investigators will keep pressing.

And if the Saints—or Gayle Benson—have something to hide, it will come out.

Just like it did for Jerry Richardson. Just like it did for Donald Sterling. And just like it did for Dan Snyder.

The Super Bowl spotlight is here. But for the New Orleans Saints, the biggest fight might not be on the field.

Stay tuned.