Drew Brees gets 100% real while reflecting on playing in New Orleans

While New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees gave his Hall of Fame speech during the enshrinement ceremony on Saturday afternoon, one of the more emotional moments was when he talked about his time playing for the franchise. Aside from Brees fighting back tears when talking about former Saints head coach Sean Payton, his reflection on the city of New Orleans was one that will have fans misty-eyed.

There’s no denying what Brees brought to New Orleans when he came to the team in 2006, leading to an illustrious 15-year career with the Saints. But Brees would see the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina’s impact in New Orleans in 2005, causing billions of dollars’ worth of damage and much more, via The National Library of Medicine.

Brees would speak about the resilience of the city and how destruction like that could teach a valuable lesson on love.

“It doesn’t take you long to realize what makes New Orleans so special,” Brees said, via NFL Network. “New Orleans has been through a lot, to the point where, in some cases, the feeling was, ‘We may have lost everything; it may never come back the same.’ Storms teach us that our greatest treasures aren’t the things that we own; they’re the people we love and the way we show up for one another.”

New Orleans has a special place in Drew Brees' heart @Saints | @ProFootballHOF pic.twitter.com/Y2cdA00owD

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 8, 2026

Drew Brees on being trusted with the “soul” of New Orleans 

Brees was seen as part of the hope of the Saints that brought some enjoyment back to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, being a part of the first game when the city re-opened the Superdome. Plus, the Brees Dream Foundation, started in 2003 by Brittany Brees and him, helped with the reconstruction of the city by raising and donating money.

Brees spoke more about how the city of New Orleans believed in him and “trusted” him with the “soul of the city,” something that he “would have died to protect.”

“If you love New Orleans, it’ll love you back,” Brees said.

At any rate, Brees’ impact will long be remembered.

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