The greatest Saints player in franchise history is marching into Canton on the first ballot. Brees, a 13-time Pro Bowler who led New Orleans back from the brink to its only Super Bowl title in the span of four years, was the most efficient QB of his era and yet somehow underrated. The diminutive passer was overlooked in the era of statuesque gunslingers Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and flashy throwers like Aaron Rodgers, but Brees was the most accurate and consistent QB of his era, setting new standards that are rarely reached in today’s game. Brees threw for over 5,000 yards five times — his record set in 2011 of 5,476 passing yards was eclipsed by Manning (by one yard) two years later — and finished with over 70% completion seven times, including in his last five seasons. A sign of the times, Brees was never voted MVP and earned just one first-team All-Pro honor but twice won Offensive Player of the Year and earned Comeback Player of the Year in his fourth season in San Diego after being benched the year prior. A second-round pick of the Chargers in 2001, Brees left the Bolts following the 2005 season after he separated his throwing shoulder in the season finale and San Diego moved on to Philip Rivers. Thisclose to joining Nick Saban’s Dolphins, Brees instead signed with the Saints, who, like the city of New Orleans, were recovering from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Alongside then-head coach Sean Payton, Brees rejuvenated the city and the franchise, getting the Saints to the NFC title game in his first season and then leading them to glory over Manning’s Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. Brees and the Saints never again reached that peak but were frequent playoff participants, winning four straight NFC South titles from 2017-2020 and coming a controversial pass interference call from likely another Super Bowl berth in 2018. Brees retired after falling to Brady’s Buccaneers in the 2020 postseason, his 20th year in the pros. His 80,358 passing yards and 571 passing TDs rank behind Brady for second all-time. No longer the bridesmaid, Brees will now cap his football life by trading in his gold Saints helmet for a gold jacket.
