Franchise legend Drew Brees unanimously gains entrance into Saints Hall of Fame

'If you love New Orleans, it'll love you back. And we loved New Orleans, and New Orleans loved us back'

May 30, 2024 at 05:20 PM

John DeShazier

Senior Writer

The New Orleans Saints announced that Drew Brees and Doug Moreau will be the newest members inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame during the 2024 NFL season in an announcement press conference on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

The most trusted hands in the history of the franchise were not trusted, the most recognizable face unable to gain affirmation.

The security checkpoint at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center – specifically, the door leading to access the hallway leading to the New Orleans Saints locker room – did not permit passage for Drew Brees on Thursday.

But make no mistake: The building, city and region still comfortably can be called home for the best player in Saints history.

And now so, too, can the Saints Hall of Fame, as Brees was announced as its 2024 inductee.

Doug Moreau, the Saints' gameday press box public address announcer, has been chosen to receive the Joe Gemelli "Fleur de Lis" Award, for his contributions to the New Orleans Saints organization. Moreau will enter his 27^th year working with the Saints on gamedays.

Brees – the record-setting, Super Bowl XLIV-winning quarterback who played 15 years in New Orleans after joining the franchise as an unrestricted free agent in 2006 – will be the singular player enshrined at a select time during the 2024 season.

"This is a tremendous honor, and I am so grateful to everybody here, and forever will be," Brees said. "Once a Saint, always a Saint. And I will be living and dying with the team every Sunday."

While the locker room has experience significant personnel turnover since Brees' retirement in 2020, he required no introduction upon entering his old workspaces. Defensive end Cam Jordan, who played 10 seasons with Brees, was the first to see and greet in the hallway, followed by former guard Jahri Evans, a Brees teammate for 10 seasons and a fellow Saints Hall of Famer.

Into the locker room, there was a handshake with rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, and hugs and conversations for tight end Juwan Johnson, head equipment manager John Baumgartner and former safety Malcolm Jenkins.

Attendance at Thursday's OTA practice allowed Brees – a two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year and 13-time Pro Bowler who finished his career with the second-most passing yards (80,358) and passing touchdowns (571) in NFL history – to share memories with Director of Pro Personnel Michael Parenton, former tight end Josh Hill, Coach Dennis Allen, quarterback Derek Carr and tight end Taysom Hill, among others.

Brees led the Saints to seven NFC South Division titles, including four straight from 2017-20. In 15 seasons with New Orleans, he threw for 68,010 yards and 491 touchdowns while completing 68.8 percent of his passes. He played his first five seasons with the San Diego Chargers; a shoulder injury in his right (throwing) arm in his final game as a Charger led Brees to believe his career might be ending just as it was beginning.

"I thought I was going to be the starting quarterback for the San Diego Chargers forever," he said. "Felt like I'd kind of paid my dues there and I'd been through a lot and fought through multiple quarterback competitions and been benched a few times, and them bringing in people to take my job, and all those things.

Photos: Saints announce 2024 Hall of Fame inductees

The New Orleans Saints announced that Drew Brees and Doug Moreau will be the newest members inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame during the 2024 NFL season in an announcement press conference on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

New Orleans Saints