Gayle Benson surprises Drew Brees with No. 9 jersey on Tom Benson statue
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Drew Brees stopped in his tracks after Saints owner Gayle Benson delivered a surprise tied to two of the most important figures in franchise history.
Benson placed Brees’ No. 9 Saints jersey on the statue of her late husband, former Saints owner Tom Benson.
Brees paused and looked at the statue before making a few jokes about the new addition.
“Mr. B would’ve looked good in a jersey,” Brees said.
The jersey draped over the statue was the one Brees wore during his Super Bowl MVP performance.
One fan in Canton said Brees made people believe he was part of New Orleans through the way he treated the city and its residents.
“It was a connection like no other,” the fan said. “And he was so genuine with that connection to the community.”
The moment came as Brees prepared to be enshrined as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. The former Saints quarterback was selected in his first year of eligibility and will be enshrined at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
- Drew Brees never won NFL MVP and former Saints still cannot explain why
- Drew Brees jumped curbs and got stuck in a garage before Superdome reopening
- Sean Payton once wondered if injured Drew Brees was as good as the Saints would get
- Drew Brees says joining the Saints was God’s calling
- Saints went all in on Drew Brees when doctors gave him a 25% chance to play again
Tom Benson owned the Saints during Brees’ 15 seasons in New Orleans, including the franchise’s Super Bowl championship run.
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