Gayle Benson

Lore & Background

Benson is one of ten female NFL owners, including Sheila Ford Hamp (Detroit Lions), Kim Pegula (Buffalo Bills), Carol Davis (Oakland Raiders), Denise DeBartolo York (San Francisco 49ers), Amy Adams Strunk (Tennessee Titans), Janice McNair (Houston Texans), Jody Allen (Seattle Seahawks), Dee Haslam (Cleveland Browns), and Carlie Irsay-Gordon (Indianapolis Colts). Benson and Allen (Portland Trail Blazers) are two of five female owners in the NBA, along with Jeanie Buss (Los Angeles Lakers), Miriam Adelson (Dallas Mavericks) and Ann Walton Kroenke (Denver Nuggets).

Reader's Guide

Benson began her career in receptionist and secretarial positions while doing interior design before buying and renovating businesses with her second husband, Thomas 'T-Bird' Bird. Following their divorce, Benson continued an interior decorating business called Gayle Bird Interiors, Ltd. In the first ten years, Gayle and her then-husband Thomas Bird renovated one hundred properties. She became the owner of both the Saints and Pelicans following the death of her husband Tom.

Tom Benson had planned on bequeathing the voting stock shares of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans to his daughter Renee Benson, grandson Ryan Benson LeBlanc, and granddaughter Rita Benson LeBlanc. On December 27, 2014, Tom Benson wrote an e-mail to his daughter and two grandchildren stating he wanted 'no further contact with any of you.' Gayle Benson was named his heir. Tom Benson's daughter and grandchildren filed lawsuits challenging his decision to name Gayle his heir, questioning his mental competency.

Tom Benson was determined to be mentally competent and was allowed to change his will to leave ownership of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans to his wife. Rodney Henry, former personal assistant to Tom Benson, filed a lawsuit accusing the New Orleans Saints and Gayle Benson of racism and violations of federal labor laws. The lawsuit claimed that Gayle Benson had treated him with disrespect because of his race. An NFL arbitrator ruled in favor of Henry and against the Saints on the labor complaint, awarding him overtime pay, a contractual payout for his dismissal, and attorney's fees; however, the same arbitrator ruled against Henry on the claims of racism.

According to The New York Times, under Benson's leadership 'the Saints and the archdiocese (began) working together to temper the fallout from a flood of sexual abuse accusations made against priests and church employees.' The efforts included 'working closely with the archdiocese in attempting to solicit positive media coverage of the church and burnish the image of Archbishop Aymond, even writing talking points for him.' In July 2017, it was announced that Tom and Gayle Benson had finalized an agreement to buy a majority share of Dixie Brewing Co.

Did You Know?

• Benson has been married three times: to Nace Anthony Salomone (1967–1972), Thomas 'T-Bird' Bird (1977–1987), and Tom Benson (2004–2018).
• She and her husband Tom funded the construction of the Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium at the University of the Incarnate Word, which opened on September 1, 2008.
• In January 2012, Benson and her husband were awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for their service to the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI.
• In November 2012, Gayle and Tom Benson donated $7.5 million towards the construction of Tulane University's Yulman Stadium; the playing surface is known as Benson Field.
• In 2015, the Benson family gave $20 million for cancer care and research.