The Southern University Human Jukebox is not used to being one-upped as the halftime entertainment, but even the band understood how important the moment was, standing behind the spotlight in a formation that spelled out “DREW - 9.”
Drew Brees, the greatest player in New Orleans Saints history, returned to the Caesars Superdome on Thursday night and was honored by the team in a boisterous halftime celebration.
The Superdome lights went low and a tribute video to Brees rolled on the big screens behind the end zone, celebrating Brees’ triumphs in his 15 years as the Saints quarterback. When the video wrapped, Saints owner Gayle Benson stood in a spotlight on the field and gave a brief introduction to a man who needed none.
“On behalf of the entire Saints family, it is my honor to bring Drew and the Brees family back home to the Dome on this special Thanksgiving evening,” Benson said. “And now Saints fans, it is my pleasure to turn it over to our future Hall of Fame quarterback, Drew Brees.”
A smiling Brees strode into the spotlight with his arms raised as the cheers poured down on him. He spun in a circle as he blew kisses to the crowd.
As he spoke, the Jumbotron flashed to his family. His wife Brittany was wiping back tears in one of the suites above the field as the couple’s children watched their dad on the field once again.
“Thank you Mrs. Gayle Benson, thank you to the Saints organization, thank you to the great city of New Orleans,” Brees said. “Thank you to the Who Dat Nation. We have experienced so many unbelievable moments on this field and in this city. Thank you so much for loving us. Thank you for embracing me and my family. We will always love you, and we will always work to make you proud.”
The tribute video included messages from several celebrities — some local, some not, some former rivals.
New Orleans natives Harry Connick Jr. and Wendell Pierce spoke on the tribute video. So did actor Matthew McConaughey, who like Brees is a native Texan. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who has broken several of Brees’ records since his retirement, also made an appearance.
“Thank you Drew … for retiring! Don’t ever come back!” Brady wisecracked. He continued to speak on his pre-recorded message, presumably to say something complimentary of Brees’ career, but his voice was drowned out by the Superdome crowd’s boos.
In Pierce’s recorded remarks, he said he’s watched Brees’ career from Morocco to Moscow and Breaux Bridge to the Lower 9th Ward. Pierce said what many people have said who watched Brees’ career unfold up close and in person: He believes Brees is one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play.
But Pierce followed that up: “Drew Brees, you will forever be one of the greatest New Orleanians who ever lived. Congratulations, and thank you for all the years and for all the memories — and especially that championship,” Pierce said.
The last time Brees was on this field, he was wearing his No. 9 uniform, jogging off the turf for a final time after a playoff loss to the Buccaneers. There were just a smattering of fans in attendance that day, a product of a pandemic that forced people to stay home.
Thursday he wore a navy suit with a gray tie, broadcasting the Saints' Thanksgiving game against the Buffalo Bills as an analyst for NBC Sports in front of a full house.
But he’d spent enough time on that field in front of the black-and-gold-clad fans to know what they wanted. So, before he left the field in a cart to get back to his new job, Brees got them going one last time.
“On this field, back in 2010, we created the Who Dat chant,” Brees said through the stadium speakers. “It was loud then, but I know it can be even louder. So one last time, let’s make them hear it. The greatest fans in the world, the Who Dat Nation, let’s blow the top off this dome and make the world feel it and hear it.”
And he pumped his fist toward the turf, the Saints fans in attendance did their best to follow their leader's direction.
