New Orleans Breakers Flashback: Nolan Franz (VIDEO)

The New Orleans Breakers were a United States Football League franchise that played in the Louisiana Superdome for one season, in 1984. The Breakers began their USFL tenure in Boston, in 1983, but a stadium issue forced a move, allowing New Orleans real estate developer Joe Canizaro to buy the team, and move it to New Orleans for the 1984 season.

In 1984, the Breakers began the season 5-0, but went 3-10 the rest of the way, and missed the USFL playoffs.

New Orleans supported the team well, with the Breakers averaging 30,557 per game, but the USFL opted to move their schedule from the spring to the fall in 1986, and with the Saints in town, the franchise elected to move to Portland for the 1985 season.

All summer long, we’re looking back at former players for the New Orleans Breakers.

Today, receiver Nolan Franz:

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Franz went to East Jefferson High School, before moving on to play his college football at Tulane, where he compiled 56 receptions for 910 yards and five touchdowns between the years 1979-1981.

Out of football in 1982, Franz joined the Boston Breakers in 1983, catching 62 passes, which led the team, for 848 yards and four touchdowns.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Franz also returned five punts for 29 yards.

When the Breakers moved to New Orleans in 1984, so did Franz, where he totaled seven catches for 102 yards, along with four punt returns for another 31 yards.

Franz concluded his USFL tenure with the Portland Breakers in 1985, catching 20 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns.

In 1986, Franz played in one game for the Green Bay Packers, making one reception.

Franz was another former New Orleans Breakers' player to play in the NFL, joining the likes of quarterback Johnnie Walton, running back Marcus Dupree, Buford Jordan, and Anthony Steels, tight end Dan Ross, and receivers Frank Lockett and Charlie Smith, just to name a few.

With all that talent, it's easy to see why the Breakers had one the most exciting offenses in the league for their three years, including their lone season in New Orleans.

Below, watch Franz, wearing number 84, and the New Orleans Breakers, take on the Tampa Bay Bandits, from week 13 of the 1984 USFL season, back on Sunday, May 20, 1984: