The story behind the iconic Dome Patrol poster, and how it lives on in the Hall of Fame
 

When Pro Football Hall of Fame officials notify honorees about their induction, one of the first things they do is request personal artifacts to display in a locker exhibit at the museum in Canton, Ohio.

Sam Mills’ family immediately went to work. They dug into boxes of Sam’s personal belongings from his playing days in New Orleans and Carolina to see what they could find. In one of the boxes, they uncovered a one-of-a-kind item: black military fatigues with gold lettering. The nameplate over the chest: MILLS. The unit: N.O. SAINTS. Mills’ No. 51 was stitched on one front pocket. A gold patch of Louisiana was on the other.

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“When we saw it, we knew immediately what it was,” said Marcus Mills, one of Sam’s three sons. “Who else has a big, black onesie jumpsuit sitting around?”

Marcus and his brothers, Andre and Sam III, where there on that day in 1988 when his father and Saints teammates Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson and Pat Swilling posed in the outfits for the iconic "Dome Patrol" poster on the apron of the Superdome.

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The poster instantly became one of the most popular in the line produced by Seattle-based Costacos Brothers, and a must-have collector’s item for Saints fans. It remains an enduring symbol of the famed Dome Patrol teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s, a cherished piece of memorabilia from the first great era of Saints football.

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Re: The story behind the iconic Dome Patrol poster, and how it lives on in the Hall of Fame
 

I Love this.
I remember the poster well, but never actually had one of my
own... makes me want to look for it online.

Re: The story behind the iconic Dome Patrol poster, and how it lives on in the Hall of Fame
 

They are not available on eBay at all. I just read where the guy that produced them way back then is considering a limited reissue because of demand.

Re: The story behind the iconic Dome Patrol poster, and how it lives on in the Hall of Fame
 

Every kid that watched Saints games had one of those pistetsand some full grown men like me.

Re: The story behind the iconic Dome Patrol poster, and how it lives on in the Hall of Fame
 

The Saints would be smart to purchase the copyright to the poster if they don't allready own it. I bet they could crank out a couple thousand every year.

Re: The story behind the iconic Dome Patrol poster, and how it lives on in the Hall of Fame
 

Two HOF players in that poster!

Re: The story behind the iconic Dome Patrol poster, and how it lives on in the Hall of Fame
 

Black and gold goggles OFF ....

Does Pat Swilling ever get the nod?

Re: The story behind the iconic Dome Patrol poster, and how it lives on in the Hall of Fame
 

It's not looking good at all. He's been eligible since 2004 and has never even made it to the semi-finalist list (top 25). He only has two more years of modern era eligibility left.

Re: The story behind the iconic Dome Patrol poster, and how it lives on in the Hall of Fame
 

Probably not.

Re: The story behind the iconic Dome Patrol poster, and how it lives on in the Hall of Fame
 

Agreed. Swilling was a tremendous football player but probably not on HoF level.