Drew Brees Set for Hall of Fame Induction - and Saints Rookie Tyler Shough Will Be There to See It
SAN FRANCISCO - When the NFL Honors ceremony kicks off Thursday night at the Palace of Fine Arts, one of the league’s brightest young quarterbacks will be in the building - not just as a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year, but as a lifelong fan witnessing a moment he’s dreamed of.
Tyler Shough, the New Orleans Saints’ rookie signal-caller, will be front and center as Drew Brees is expected to be announced as a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer - a fitting honor for one of the most prolific passers in NFL history. And for Shough, this isn’t just another awards night. It’s personal.
“It’s going to be special just to be in the building,” Shough said Wednesday, fresh off his arrival for Super Bowl LX festivities. “I grew up idolizing his play, so I’m excited about seeing him get the highest honor in the sport.”
Brees, the league’s second all-time leading passer, is widely expected to headline the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. If confirmed, he’ll become the first player in Saints history to be inducted on the first ballot - a milestone that cements his legacy not just in New Orleans, but across the NFL landscape.
“I know he’s going to get in,” Shough said. “He’s the G.O.A.T.
He’s the pinnacle of the quarterback position. For me, as a quarterback, it’s exciting to see because I know what he’s meant to the city.”
That admiration isn’t just from afar. Shough has already begun building a connection with Brees.
During the season, the rookie reached out to the Saints legend for advice - not just about throwing mechanics or reading defenses, but about the week-to-week grind of being a franchise quarterback. Preparation, leadership, game-day mindset - all the things that made Brees one of the most respected players of his era.
Shough has also been studying the tape, soaking in every nuance of Brees’ play - the way he read defenses, worked through progressions, and always seemed to find the right throw at the right time.
“The first thing that caught my eye was his ability to collectively unify people, whether it’s with pregame speeches or whatever,” Shough said. “Then to watch him during games, clicking through his reads and finding positive plays and check-downs, it’s impressive to watch. As a quarterback, you realize how special he is.”
And Shough isn’t just looking to admire Brees from a distance. He’s planning to organize offseason workouts with some of his Saints teammates near Brees’ home in San Diego, hoping to tap into the Hall of Famer’s knowledge in person. For a young quarterback trying to establish himself in the league, it’s a rare opportunity to learn from one of the all-time greats - and Shough isn’t taking it for granted.
But Shough isn’t the only one celebrating Brees’ long-anticipated Hall of Fame moment. Two of Brees’ former teammates - linebacker Demario Davis and tight end Ben Watson - spoke at Super Bowl LX media events this week, and both made it clear: there’s no debate. Brees belongs in Canton.
“There’s only one Drew Brees,” Davis said. “No. 9 - the greatest to ever do it.
You could be talking all day about his accolades, and what he’s done as a passer. I don’t know if there’ll ever be a passer that does the amount of things in a game that he was able to do in his career.”
Davis, who played alongside Brees during the final four years of the quarterback’s career, saw firsthand what made him special - not just the stats, but the leadership. During that stretch, the Saints won four straight NFC South titles and posted double-digit wins every season. Brees wasn’t just a quarterback; he was the heartbeat of the franchise.
“The type of man he is, the type of leader he is, the type of husband and father that he is, the type of community champion that he is - he did everything the right way,” Davis said. “It’s a storybook ending for him to be able to go into the Hall of Fame.”
Watson, who joined the Saints in 2013 after stints with the Patriots and Browns, echoed that sentiment. He played four seasons with Brees and credited that time in New Orleans with reigniting his career.
“He was already the commander in chief of one of the best passing offenses the league had known,” Watson said. “But what I didn’t know was how we would connect as teammates.
I got there, but I got exponentially better at my craft being in New Orleans. Those three years gave me an opportunity to play more the rest of my career.”
And that’s coming from a guy who also caught passes from Tom Brady.
“When you look at his body of work, at how excellent he was at his craft, and then outside of that, what he meant for the city and also what he meant for just the National Football League - that’s why he’s going into the Hall of Fame,” Watson said. “Drew led by example, every single play, every single practice. When you look at that body of work in that offense and who he is and what he’s done outside of the game - he’ll always be one of the top players of all-time in my book.”
As the NFL world gathers in San Francisco to celebrate the season’s best, Thursday night will offer a moment to look back - at a career that redefined quarterbacking in the modern era, and at a legacy that continues to inspire the next generation. For Tyler Shough, it’s more than a front-row seat to history. It’s a reminder of the standard he’s chasing - and the blueprint left behind by a Saints legend.