It isn’t always easy to decide who belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sometimes, the conclave of voters spend years arguing over whether or not a player’s accomplishments stand the test of time and deserve a bronze bust in Canton. But that isn’t the case for Drew Brees. One of the most decorated quarterbacks in NFL history should be as close to a slam-dunk as it gets when his name appears on the ballot for the Class of 2026.
But just in case those voters needed a reminder, the New Orleans Saints shared a 10-minute, 50-play highlight reel presenting some of the best moments of Brees’ career. From regular season grudge matches with NFC rivals to classic playoff games and record-breaking throws, No. 9 did it all. It’s no accident that their choice for No. 1 put Brees ahead of his longtime rival Peyton Manning’s mark for the most passing yards in NFL history; Manning, who Brees beat head-to-head in Super Bowl XLIV, was enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame himself back in 2021.
Brees will have to wait out the process like everyone else, with the Hall of Fame voters whittling down a list of hundreds of names to dozens and then hearing out each individual argument over the next six months. But the discussions centering on him should be the easiest voters debate this year, even with other great players like Larry Fitzgerald and Frank Gore in the mix. One player we’ll be watching closely? Jahri Evans, Brees’ old teammate and fellow Super Bowl champion, who has gotten one step closer to induction every year of his eligibility. It sure would be sweet if the two of them could go into the Hall of Fame together.