Drew Brees says there is a 99.9% chance he cries during Hall of Fame speech
The Saints legend said writing his enshrinement speech has been one of the most difficult tasks he has faced.
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Drew Brees said there is a 99.9% chance he cries Saturday when the Saints legend delivers his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement speech.
Brees addressed reporters Thursday in Canton as Hall of Fame weekend began. He said putting the eight-minute speech together has been one of the most difficult things he has ever done.
“You have eight minutes to, you know, kind of compile a lot of different thoughts and emotions,” Brees said. “I have a lot of thoughts.”
Brees said walking into Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium helped him begin visualizing the crowd and the emotions he could experience Saturday.
“It’s a lot to process and a lot to plan for,” Brees said.
He previously compared the buildup to Hall of Fame weekend to planning a wedding, with events, venue walkthroughs and meetings with Hall of Fame organizers.
Brees also reflected Thursday on Steve Gleason’s blocked punt during the Saints’ return to the Superdome in 2006.
“All of a sudden there’s this, what sounded like a shotgun blast ... Gleason blocking that punt,” Brees said. “The crowd erupted. It sounded like they were going to blow the roof off the dome.”
Brees spoke about fellow Class of 2026 member Larry Fitzgerald and the opportunity to play alongside the former Arizona Cardinals receiver at the Pro Bowl.
“The thing I most looked forward to in the Pro Bowl was to play with Larry,” Brees said.
Former Saints coach Sean Payton will present Brees during Saturday’s ceremony.
Current Saints coach Kellen Moore said several players and staff members will miss Saturday’s practice to attend the enshrinement.
Brees will become the first Saints player selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
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The Hall of Fame museum already has a display dedicated to Brees featuring memorabilia from his career, including items he wore during his 15 seasons with the Saints.
Brees played 20 NFL seasons. His career developed into something few could have predicted when New Orleans signed him in 2006.
Before long, Brees was breaking records, leading the Saints to their first Super Bowl championship and extending his career into his 40s.
“You’re just trying to make it,” Brees said of entering the NFL. “Before you know it, you’re at a point where, OK, this has gone on for a while, and I still love this game.”
Brees said his family and teammates helped motivate him to continue playing.
“I was wanting to hang on as long as I could for them and also for my teammates,” Brees said. “I wanted to win a championship for those guys.”
The people who shared that journey are expected to surround him in Canton.
Members of the Brees family, Saints owner Gayle Benson, Payton and members of the Who Dat Nation are expected to attend events throughout the weekend.
Fans already have begun arriving in Ohio.
“We’ve seen so many Saints people here already, and it’s only really like day one,” one fan said. “I think it’s just something amazing.”
Another fan called Brees’ enshrinement the “second-best day of my life after the Super Bowl.”
New Orleans also is sending some of its food to Canton.
Tommy Cvitanovich and the team at Drago’s Restaurant loaded a truck headed to Ohio after Brees invited them to cook at a country club party during Hall of Fame weekend.
Santana said Brees and Payton ate at Drago’s about 20 years ago, when Brees was new to the city.
Asked whether he was concerned guests would ignore the country club’s food, Cvitanovich responded, “You know what? That’s their problem. I know I’m bringing good stuff up there.”
Cvitanovich said he previously traveled with the Saints and watched Brees remain behind near team buses to sign autographs for children.
“He is what you want in your quarterback and more,” Cvitanovich said.
Brees is expected to be introduced during Hall of Fame events before Saturday’s enshrinement ceremony. Payton will present his former quarterback.
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