Drew Brees to be inducted Hall of Fame with Sean Payton

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 8, 2026, in Canton, Ohio, with his longtime head coach Sean Payton serving as his presenter. The emotional request, captured in a video call released on July 30, highlights the enduring partnership that transformed the Saints franchise and delivered its only Super Bowl championship.

Brees surprised Payton, now the head coach of the Denver Broncos, with a FaceTime call to ask him to take on the presenter role. In the video, Payton was visibly moved, wiping away tears as he accepted. He told Brees he was caught off-guard by the request and called it an honor. The two spent 15 seasons together from 2006 through 2020, a period in which they built the Saints into a perennial contender.

Their collaboration began in 2006 when Payton was hired as a first-time head coach and the Saints signed Brees, who was recovering from a shoulder injury. The move proved franchise-altering. Under their leadership, the Saints made nine playoff appearances and won Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season. Brees’s individual achievements were historic; he retired after the 2020 season ranking...