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Drew Brees reached out to his former head coach Sean Payton with a special request that left the now-Denver Broncos coach visibly emotional. The Hall of Fame quarterback contacted Payton via FaceTime to ask whether he would present him during induction ceremonies in Canton, Ohio next week, marking a significant moment in their long-standing relationship.
Payton, who spent 15 seasons alongside Brees with the New Orleans Saints, was caught off-guard by the request. Speaking from Broncos training camp, Payton acknowledged the weight of the moment, describing himself as unprepared for the call but honored to accept the responsibility that came with it.
During their 15-year partnership, the quarterback-coach duo captured Super Bowl XLIV and established the Saints as consistent NFC contenders. Payton reflected on how professional relationships of that nature are sometimes taken for granted, but expressed satisfaction that theirs concluded on positive terms aligned with Brees’s own vision for his legacy.
Brees, who retired in 2020, ranks second all-time in passing yards, completions, and touchdowns. He will be inducted alongside Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri, and Roger Craig as members of the 2026 Hall of Fame class.
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