Tom Benson is not leaving the Saints and Pelicans to his daughter and her children after all.
He agreed to a succession plan that will give his wife, Gayle, control of New Orleans' two major professional sports franchises after his death.
The 87-year-old Benson says his decision is meant to ensure the clubs' "long-term stability and success."
He says the move will also preserve the teams’ tradition of working for the good of New Orleans and the region.
The move is a departure from previous plans to bequeath a controlling interest in the clubs to Benson's daughter, Renee, and her children, Rita Benson LeBlanc and Ryan LeBlanc.
Benson has owned the Saints since 1985 and the Pelicans since 2012. He married Gayle Benson in 2004.