Gumbo the dog is one of two official mascots of the NFL's New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....

, the other being Sir Saint

Sir Saint (mascot)

Sir Saint is the 2nd official mascot of the NFL's New Orleans Saints along with Gumbo the dog. Sir Saint is one of the original mascots of the New Orleans Saints under former owner John Mecom, and has recently been revived by the organization after several decades of hiatus....

. Gumbo is in the form of a "Saint" Bernard dog and wears the number 00. It was the Louisiana Restaurant Association's gift to the Saints. From the New Orleans Saints website:

"It was a natural evolution of this idea that the dog be a Saint Bernard, and the name, Gumbo (a conglomeration of food), reflects the Restaurant Association as well as a famous traditional Cajun meal loved by young and old, rich and poor (a mix like all people who love and support the Saints)."

Even though Gumbo went into a brief retirement, he was brought back by popular demand.

For years, Gumbo was in fact a real Saint Bernard dog

St. Bernard (dog)

The St. Bernard is a breed of very large working dog from the Italian and Swiss Alps, originally bred for rescue. The breed has become famous through tales of alpine rescues, as well as for its large size.-Appearance:The St. Bernard is a large dog...

 that roamed the sidelines in Saints apparel for dogs. The reason for choosing this breed of dog is the fact that Orleans Parish (where the City of New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...

 lies) shares a border with St. Bernard Parish

St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana

St. Bernard Parish is a parish located southeast of New Orleans in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Chalmette, the largest city in the parish. As of 2000, its population was 67,229. It has been ranked the fastest-growing county in the United States from 2007 to 2008 by the U.S....

 to the east.

As listed on the New Orleans Saints official website, Gumbo's favorites are:

• Food:
  • Gumbo (of course), Fried Falcon
    Atlanta Falcons
    The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
    
    , Panther
    Carolina Panthers
    The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
    
     Stew, Buccaneer
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
    
    Brownies

• TV Shows:
  • Saints games, Animal Planet

• Movies:
  • All Dogs Go to Heaven, Beethoven

• Songs:
  • Who Let the Dogs Out, Saints Go Marching In, The Saints are Coming

• Colors:
  • Black & Gold

• Team:
  • "Do you have to ask?"

• Interests:
  • Playing with kids; Cruising on my Saints Scooter in the French Quarter; Reading Books; Marching in Mardi Gras Parades

External links

Gumbo Information from the New Orleans Saints website