In his first year of eligibility, former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been named a modern-era nominee for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
The announcement should come as no surprise
considering the long list of Brees’ accomplishments during his 20-year career in the NFL. In addition to leading the Saints to victory in Super Bowl XLIV and being named the game’s MVP, the 2006 Walter Payton Man of Year was named to the Pro-Bowl 13 times, All-Pro 5 times and NFL Offensive Player of the Year twice. Brees also ranks second overall in completions (7,142), yards (80,358) and touchdowns (571)
Brees is one of 13 modern-era players who are up for consideration for the first time as well as one of the 3 quarterbacks on that list which includes his former Chargers teammate Philip Rivers, and Alex Smith.
Other former Saints who were also named as nominees are Jahri Evans, Jake Delhomme, La’Roi Glover, Welsey Walls, John Kasey, and Lorenzo Neal.
Next month, the Hall of Fame’s screening committee will reduce the list of 128 nominees down to 50. Then the full selection committee will reduce that list to 25, with the final 15 being voted on at the annual selection meeting prior to the Super Bowl in February.
