The media selection committee of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame has selected quarterback Drew Brees for induction in 2024, while Saints gameday press box public address announcer Doug Moreau has been chosen to receive the Joe Gemelli "Fleur de Lis" award for his vast contributions to the Saints organization.
Brees was originally selected by the San Diego Chargers with the first pick in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft out of Purdue. Brees received his first significant action as a rookie in 2001, taking over the Chargers starting job in 2002 and led San Diego to its first playoff berth since the 1995 campaign in 2004, as he was selected to his first of 13 Pro Bowls, voted a consensus NFL Comeback Player of the Year and PFWA George Halas Award (given to an NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed) winner.
After suffering a serious shoulder injury in the last game of the 2005 season, Brees agreed to terms with New Orleans on a five-year contract on March 14, 2006 and rehabbed ardently from an extensive surgery to prepare for an unforgettable debut in the Crescent City, where he was selected as an Associated Press All-Pro, Pro Bowl starter, led the Saints to the NFC Championship game for the first time in franchise history and set the table for a prolonged run of outstanding production and consistency.
A season after becoming only the second quarterback in NFL history to reach 5,000 passing yards and capturing the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Brees led New Orleans to the top of the mountain in capturing Super Bowl XLIV as he was named the game's MVP. His heroics on and off the field earned him the esteemed Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year and AP Male Athlete of the Year honors. Two seasons later, Brees produced one of the most prolific seasons ever as he was named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year for the second time, completing 468-of-657 passes (71.2 pct.) for 5,476 yards with 46 touchdown passes and a 110.6 passer rating, as he set what was then the league's single-season passing yardage mark in leading New Orleans to its second 13-3 campaign in three seasons.
Following his NFL retirement announcement, we look back at Saints quarterback
Continuing to be a model of consistency, Brees transitioned the franchise to a second period of excellence and in 2018, enjoyed another standout campaign where he set the NFL's single-season record for completion percentage (74.4 pct.), completing 364-of-489 passes for 3,992 yards with 32 touchdowns, only five interceptions and a 115.7 passer rating as he led the Black and Gold to the NFC Championship game, becoming the NFL's all-time leader in passing yardage and completions at the time along the way. In his final campaign in 2020, Brees became the first quarterback to surpass 80,000 career passing yards, when he completed 275-of-390 passes (70.5 pct.) for 2,942 yards with 24 touchdowns, only six interceptions and a 106.4 passer rating in 12 starts. He finished the regular season ranked first in fourth quarter passer rating (128.7), second in completion percentage and sixth in passer rating, helping lead the Saints to their fourth consecutive NFC South Division title.
Brees was a two-time Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year, named to 13 Pro Bowls and five AP All-Pro teams, was the 2004 NFL Comeback Player of the Year and the 2006 co-recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. Overall, in his 20-year NFL career, he played in 287 regular season games (286 starts) and completed 7,142-of-10,551 passes (67.7 pct.) for 80,358 yards, 571 touchdown passes and a 98.7 passer rating. He set numerous NFL passing records and retired as the league's all-time leader in passing yardage (80,358), completions (7,142) passing attempts (10,551) and currently ranks second in completions, completion percentage and touchdown passes and sixth in passer rating (98.7). Brees holds marks for touchdown passes in a game (seven, tied with seven other players), completion percentage in a season (74.4 pct., 2018), completion percentage in a game (96.7 pct.), 300-yard passing games in a season (13, 2011), consecutive games with at least 300 yards passing (nine, twice), most passing yards in a five-game span (1,954), most passing yards in a four-season span (20,767, 2011-14), most passing yards in a five-season span (25,637, 2011-15), most passing yards in a six-season span (30,845, 2011-16), most seasons leading the league in passing yardage (seven), consecutive games with a touchdown pass (54, 2009-12), games with five-plus touchdown passes (11), consecutive games with at least three touchdown passes and zero interceptions (four, tied with three other players), overall (10) and consecutive (nine) seasons with at least 30 touchdown passes, career 300-yard passing games (123) and career 350-yard passing games (63). The Texas native holds the three most accurate seasons in league history and threw for 5,000 yards an NFL-record five times, a feat no other player has accomplished more than twice.
Starting all 18 postseason contests he appeared in, Brees completed 481-of-721 passes (66.7%) for 5,366 yards with 37 touchdowns and a 97.1 passer rating. In his finest postseason moments in the 2009 playoffs, he completed 72-of-102 passes (70.6 pct.) for 732 yards, eight touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 117.0 rating en route to the Super Bowl XLIV title. In Super Bowl XLIV vs. the Indianapolis Colts, Brees completed 32-of-39 passes (82.1 pct.) for 288 yards with two touchdowns, zero picks and a 114.5 passer rating, winning MVP honors. In the contest, Brees completed 18 of his last 19 passes and final 10 attempts. He is one of only seven quarterbacks to have 200 passing yards, two touchdown passes and a 70% completion percentage in a Super Bowl win.
Brees' record as a starter for the Saints was 151-94 (.616) in the regular season and postseason combined, easily making him the winningest signal-caller in franchise history. Brees retired as the holder of virtually every passing record in club record books with his 15 years of service and 228 regular season starts for the Black and Gold, both the highest totals in the team's history. From 2006-20, Brees led the NFL with 68,010 passing yards, 491 touchdown passes, 8,742 attempts, 6,017 completions, a 68.8 completion percentage, 116 games with at least 300 yards passing, 16 with at least 400 and 518 completions of 25 yards or more.
Even after his retirement, Brees remains a community fixture in the Gulf South with his Brees Dream Foundation, expanding on its initial mission to improve the quality of life of cancer patients and provide care, education and opportunities for children facing adversity to committing to enhance the lives of all people. He was a regular participant in important charitable and social justice causes initiated by the Saints. In New Orleans, his ongoing efforts in support of the community have raised millions of dollars for numerous organizations, important causes and individuals in need. The grandson of a World War II veteran, Brees proudly participated in several USO tours. In addition to being selected as the co-recipient of the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2006, Brees was selected as the 2007 PFWA Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award winner and has also received numerous regional honors for his important community efforts.
Moreau will enter his 27th year working with the Saints organization on gamedays, having started handling press box announcing duties in 1998 and 52nd season as a public address sports announcer. A New Orleans native who graduated from De La Salle High School in 1980 and the University of New Orleans in 1985, Moreau started public address announcing as a 10-year-old for New Orleans Recreation Department Babe Ruth baseball league games. Besides his Saints work, he has also announced professional basketball (New Orleans Pelicans) and professional baseball (New Orleans Zephyrs), as well as a variety of college, high school and youth sports. Moreau teaches seventh grade literature at Christian Brothers School and serves as the moderator of the school's canoe and kayak club and cycling club. Being born with a rare physical condition known as Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, Moreau's treatments and surgeries began at 10 days old, and while those prevented him from playing organized sports, he developed and maintained his closeness and love for athletics through announcing. Moreau actively advocates for AMC research and support for those afflicted by this rare physical condition.
Dates for the Saints contest and events surrounding the induction of Brees and the recognition of Moreau will be announced soon. For more information about the Saints Hall of Fame, visit saintshalloffame.com.
SAINTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
- 1988—Archie Manning and Danny Abramowicz
- 1989—Tommy Myers and Tom Dempsey
- 1990—Billy Kilmer
- 1991—Tony Galbreath and Derland Moore
- 1992—George Rogers, Jake Kupp and John Hill
- 1993—Joe Federspiel
- 1994—Henry Childs and Jim Finks
- 1995—Doug Atkins and Bob Pollard
- 1996—Dave Whitsell and Dave Waymer
- 1997—Stan Brock and Rickey Jackson
- 1998—Dalton Hilliard and Sam Mills
- 1999—Bobby Hebert and Eric Martin
- 2000—Pat Swilling and Vaughan Johnson
- 2001—Jim Wilks and Hoby Brenner
- 2002—Jim Mora and Frank Warren
- 2003—Jim Dombrowski and Wayne Martin
- 2004—Rueben Mayes and Steve Sidwell
- **2005—No induction due to Hurricane Katrina
- 2006—Joel Hilgenberg
- 2007—Joe Johnson
- 2008—William Roaf
- 2009—Morten Andersen
- 2010—Joe Horn
- 2011—Sammy Knight
- 2012—Tom Benson and Deuce McAllister
- 2013—La'Roi Glover
- 2014—Aaron Brooks and John Carney
- 2015—Tyrone Hughes and Michael Lewis
- 2016—Will Smith
- 2017—Jonathan Vilma and Carl Nicks
- 2018—Lance Moore and Pierre Thomas
- 2019—Reggie Bush and Marques Colston
- 2021—Jahri Evans and Roman Harper
- 2022—Devery Henderson and Fred McAfee
- 2023—Jabari Greer
- 2024—Drew Brees
JOE GEMELLI FLEUR DE LIS AWARD RECIPIENTS
- 1989—Al Hirt
- 1990—Joe Gemelli (award later named for him)
- 1991—Dave Dixon
- 1992—Charlie Kertz
- 1993—Wayne Mack
- 1994—Erby Aucoin
- 1995—Aaron Broussard
- 1996—Marie Knutson
- 1997—Angela Hill
- 1998—Joe Impastato
- 1999—Frank Wilson
- 2000—Bob Remy
- 2001—Peter "Champ" Clark
- 2002—Dean Kleinschmidt
- 2003—Jim Fast
- 2004—Bob Roesler
- 2005—NO INDUCTEES due to Hurricane Katrina
- 2006—Buddy Diliberto
- 2007—New Orleans Saints Fans (Marcy Beter)
- 2008—Barra Birrcher
- 2009—Jerry Romig
- 2010—Dan Simmons and Glennon "Silky" Powell
- 2011—Bruce Miller
- 2012—Jim Henderson
- 2013—Pete Finney
- 2014—Al Nastasi and Tony Piazza
- 2015—Doug Thornton
- 2016—Hokie Gajan
- 2017—Jay Romig
- 2018—Michael C. Hebert
- 2019—Gov. Kathleen Blanco
- 2021—Marco Garcia
- 2022—Kevin Mangum
- 2023—Bob Parkinson and Steve Paretti
- 2024—Doug Moreau