Brees to be inducted into Saints Hall of Fame

The New Orleans Saints are inducting quarterback Drew Brees into their Hall of Fame in 2024, the team announced Thursday.

"This is a tremendous honor," Brees said during a press conference Thursday. "It's always great to be back in this building. Obviously, we're no strangers to New Orleans or the Saints facility here. I feel like we're back here about 8-10 times a year."

He added: "The 15 years that I spent here, from '06 to 2020, were 15 of the best years of my life. My wife Brittany and I were embraced by this city, by this organization, by Mrs. Benson, and by the unbelievable staff."

The Purdue product spent the first five seasons of his career with the San Diego Chargers (now the Los Angeles Chargers) after the team selected him in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft.

In March 2006, Brees signed a five-year deal with the Saints. That season, he took New Orleans to the NFC Championship Game, earning a first-team All-Pro nod.

Brees would ultimately lead New Orleans to victory in Super Bowl XLIV. Alongside former head coach Sean Payton, the signal-caller is credited with helping to revitalize the franchise. He's also recognized for his charitable endeavors.

"I feel like this organization has always been the standard-bearer and setter for all of professional sports when it comes to the connection a team has with its community," he said.

Between 2008 and 2016, Brees passed for 5,000 yards in five different campaigns, and the Saints won the NFC South title in each of his final four years.

He retired after the 2020 season and passed for 80,358 yards, 571 touchdowns, and 243 interceptions with a 67.7% completion rate over his storied career.

However, Brees says that he could have extended his career if not for an injury to his throwing shoulder.

"Honestly, man, if my right arm was still working, I probably would've played another three years," Brees said, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell. "My body feels great. My body can play, my right arm can't."

The 45-year-old joins a long list of former players to be honored by the Saints, including Archie Manning, Rickey Jackson, and Reggie Bush.

"This is a tremendous honor, and I am so grateful to everybody here and forever will be. Once a Saint, always a Saint," said Brees.