Latest news with #Brees
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Drew Brees' former teammate says what we're all thinking about his Hall of Fame candidacy
Drew Brees - 1st ballot New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time in 2026, as he has finally made it five years away from his last playing season by then. Not only every Saints fan, but every ball-knowing NFL fan agrees Brees is a first-ballot Hall of Fame lock; there is nothing to discuss when it comes to the topic; he has done everything you could ask from him, and put together an award list that goes on for about two pages on its own. Super Bowl winner, Super Bowl MVP, two-time OPOY, five-time All-Pro, 13-time Pro Bowler, seven-time NFL passing yards leader, four-time NFL passing touchdowns leader, owns three of the top five single-season completion percentages, Saints Hall of Famer, Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, most career 5,000 yard seasons, most consecutive games with a touchdown pass, 80,358 passing yards, 571 career passing touchdowns, 67.7% career completion rate, and for those who care, a 172-114 career record with a Saints team that lacked competent defensive play for many years. That is less than a quarter of what he did for New Orleans on the field, never mind off it. The only man above Brees in some of the key career passing statistics is Tom Brady, due to his extra 49 starts, who will also be pretty much the strongest lock for first-ballot Hall of Fame induction when he is eligible. But when it comes to efficiency, effectiveness in all scenarios, and just year-by-year dominance no matter who is surrounding him, Brees takes the cake. One of Brees' longtime teammates and fellow Super Bowl XLIV champion, punter Thomas Morstead, made clear his view of the eligibility for Brees, sharing a simple four-word response when discussing the upcoming 2026 class: That is about as simple as it gets, and anyone who played with or against him would likely have the same response when asked. Brees was lethal in every facet of his game, both in his prime and even towards the back-end of his career. While it is a complete injustice that he never received an MVP award, it just simply does not matter towards his eligibility, because the second you look at his numbers and profound impact on the team he played the majority of his career for, it is clear where he belongs. Canton, Ohio.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Auburn QB Bo Nix is learning from legendary signal callers ahead of the 2025 season
Bo Nix met with the Denver Broncos media recently to talk about his meeting with Drew Brees. Former Auburn and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is looking to take his game to another level. Nix had a big rookie season for the Denver Broncos, throwing 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns with a completion percentage of 66%. He helped lead the Broncos to their first playoff appearance since the 2015 season when they won the Super Bowl against another former Auburn quarterback, Cam Newton, and the Carolina Panthers. Nix did that under head coach Sean Payton who knows something about coaching great quarterbacks. That is a category Nix wants to get to. At his previous stop with the New Orleans Saints, Payton got to coach Drew Brees. Nix had the opportunity to meet with Bress over the off-season. Nix talked about how it was fun talking to Brees over the off-season. He also mentioned talking to both Peyton and Eli Manning and picking their brains on what they went through as a player. He was quoted by Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports saying, 'I want to be the best in the world." Nix is talking to legends who, at one point in their careers, were considered the best. Especially talking about Peyton (Manning) and Brees. Adding Eli (Manning) to the list makes five championships among the three. Brees played 15 seasons for the New Orleans Saints, and all were under Payton as his head coach. During that time Brees threw for 68,010 yards and 491 touchdowns. The Saints posted a record of 142-86 record, and they were the champions for the 2009 season. It is unknown if Nix will have a career like Brees, but he is off to a good start after year one. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Phillip on Twitter @PJordanSEC
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Drew Brees' 41-yard TD pass against his former team is the Saints Play of the Day
The Chargers dropped eight defenders into coverage, but sending all eleven wouldn't have been enough Just 41 days stand between us and the New Orleans Saints' season opener, so we're highlighting one of the most exciting games in recent memory for the Saints Play of the Day. Our pick is this 41-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees in his high-profile duel with Los Angeles Chargers superstar Justin Herbert. You can see it for yourself right here. After being sacked by Joey Bosa on first down, Brees bounced back and threw a dart to tight end Jared Cook, who caught the pass with three Chargers trailing him around the L.A. 8-yard line. The Chargers rushed three with eight defenders dropping into coverage, but it wasn't enough. Cook torched rookie linebacker Kenneth Murray and free safety Nasir Adderley was too slow to cover up the mistake. Cook punctuated his run to the end zone with a leap over the goal line, and Wil Lutz kicked the equalizing extra point. It was a hard-fought battle. Herbert rallied with a 64-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams down the sideline. Brees led an eight-play, 73-yard scoring drive to run out the clock, capped by a 9-yard Taysom Hill touchdown run. Chargers kicker Michael Badgley boomed a 50-yard field goal that would've won the day off the upright, and the game went to overtime. Brees led another drive into Los Angeles territory to set up Lutz for a field goal, and he nailed it (from 36 yards). The Chargers asked Herbert to save the day but it wasn't meant to be. Three of his last four passes fell incomplete, and the game ended with a turnover on downs after Marshon Lattimore made a heady tackle to stop Williams short of the first down marker.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bo Nix feels more at home in community and especially running Broncos offense heading into Year 2
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The comfort level of Bo Nix heading into Year 2 extends well beyond his knowledge of the playbook. The Denver Broncos QB feels more at home just about everywhere, including the locker room, the cafeteria and venturing around the city. "I don't have to worry about what certain looks are, or, as crazy as it sounds, where we're going for the locker room, or where we're going for the stretch. A lot of times as a rookie, you just don't want to look like an idiot,' Nix said after practice on a sweltering Saturday. 'Now you can go out there look a lot better than an idiot. So excited for Year 2, excited for this football team.' Nix is coming off a rookie season in which he helped the Broncos end an eight-year playoff drought. The 10 wins were the most by any Broncos team starting a rookie QB in franchise history (John Elway and Drew Lock each had four wins). To take the next step, Nix spent time this offseason with Drew Brees in San Diego and ex-baseball pitcher Tom House. With Brees, it was more of a chat about leadership than X's and O's. Brees helped current Broncos coach Sean Payton win a Super Bowl title when they were together in New Orleans. 'Your job is go out there and complete passes and score points. Everybody understands that," the 25-year-old Nix said. "It's the off the field — how are you encouraging guys? How are you making sure guys are seen, and making sure guys are getting what they need and being put in a position to succeed so that we all can help each other? 'It's all about those second-layer things that are deeper than just what's on the football field.' With House, the 78-year-old throwing coach, Nix honed his mechanics. House has worked with quarterbacks throughout the years, including Tom Brady and Brees. 'We just want to tighten a few things up and get even more efficient,' Nix explained. 'At this point, it's tough to make big strides, so we want to find all the little things that we can that may make a difference.' Since his career ended at Oregon, Nix has been constantly on the move. First, it was to get ready for the 2024 draft. Then, after being taken at No. 12, it was to get up to speed with Payton's intricate offense. This offseason, Nix took a break. He endeared himself to the community through his charitable efforts along with attending Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche games. 'My wife and I love being here," Nix said. 'We're making this our place.' In no time, he's made this his team, too. He's gained respect through his work ethic and a season that saw him become just the fifth rookie QB in league history to throw for at least 3,500 yards and 25 TD passes. He joined the company of Jayden Daniels (2024), Justin Herbert (2020), Baker Mayfield (2018) and Peyton Manning (1998). 'For me, I just want to continue to show these guys that I'm willing to work, and find every which way we can to find wins,' Nix said. 'I know I have a lot of growth left, a lot to be done, but these guys are going to help me get there." Nix was recently selected the 64th-ranked player on the latest NFL Top 100 list. He found that both an honor and motivation. 'I want to continue to get higher, and not even for the ranking,' Nix said. 'It's just an internal standard that I have, that I want to be the best in the world." This season, he's got more offensive playmakers at his disposal. His backfield consists of J.K. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey. He's got another option in tight end Evan Engram. 'He's is not afraid to speak up. He's not afraid to challenge you and he challenges himself at the highest level," Engram said of Nix. 'I'm very impressed with him. Very blessed to be a part of his team and be his teammate. The sky's the limit with that type of mentality.' Nix is ready to take the offense to another level after a season in which they generated 111 'explosive plays,' which is defined as rushes of 10 or more yards and completions of 20-plus yards. To Nix, it's all about camaraderie. 'We don't have any clowns. We don't have any guys that are hard to get along with," Nix said. 'We just have good people, good dudes, that are just all here for one reason, and that's one team goal — just to get better.' Stadium update 'Our lease ends in 2030 and that's certainly a mile marker we're taking into account,' Leech said. 'It's a very comprehensive, long-term process that we're going through. We're trying to be very deliberate about it.' ___
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Bo Nix feels more at home in community and especially running Broncos offense heading into Year 2
Associated Press ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The comfort level of Bo Nix heading into Year 2 extends well beyond his knowledge of the playbook. The Denver Broncos QB feels more at home just about everywhere, including the locker room, the cafeteria and venturing around the city. "I don't have to worry about what certain looks are, or, as crazy as it sounds, where we're going for the locker room, or where we're going for the stretch. A lot of times as a rookie, you just don't want to look like an idiot,' Nix said after practice on a sweltering Saturday. 'Now you can go out there look a lot better than an idiot. So excited for Year 2, excited for this football team.' Nix is coming off a rookie season in which he helped the Broncos end an eight-year playoff drought. The 10 wins were the most by any Broncos team starting a rookie QB in franchise history (John Elway and Drew Lock each had four wins). To take the next step, Nix spent time this offseason with Drew Brees in San Diego and ex-baseball pitcher Tom House. With Brees, it was more of a chat about leadership than X's and O's. Brees helped current Broncos coach Sean Payton win a Super Bowl title when they were together in New Orleans. 'Your job is go out there and complete passes and score points. Everybody understands that," the 25-year-old Nix said. "It's the off the field — how are you encouraging guys? How are you making sure guys are seen, and making sure guys are getting what they need and being put in a position to succeed so that we all can help each other? 'It's all about those second-layer things that are deeper than just what's on the football field.' With House, the 78-year-old throwing coach, Nix honed his mechanics. House has worked with quarterbacks throughout the years, including Tom Brady and Brees. 'We just want to tighten a few things up and get even more efficient,' Nix explained. 'At this point, it's tough to make big strides, so we want to find all the little things that we can that may make a difference.' Since his career ended at Oregon, Nix has been constantly on the move. First, it was to get ready for the 2024 draft. Then, after being taken at No. 12, it was to get up to speed with Payton's intricate offense. This offseason, Nix took a break. He endeared himself to the community through his charitable efforts along with attending Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche games. 'My wife and I love being here," Nix said. 'We're making this our place.' In no time, he's made this his team, too. He's gained respect through his work ethic and a season that saw him become just the fifth rookie QB in league history to throw for at least 3,500 yards and 25 TD passes. He joined the company of Jayden Daniels (2024), Justin Herbert (2020), Baker Mayfield (2018) and Peyton Manning (1998). 'For me, I just want to continue to show these guys that I'm willing to work, and find every which way we can to find wins,' Nix said. 'I know I have a lot of growth left, a lot to be done, but these guys are going to help me get there." Nix was recently selected the 64th-ranked player on the latest NFL Top 100 list. He found that both an honor and motivation. 'I want to continue to get higher, and not even for the ranking,' Nix said. 'It's just an internal standard that I have, that I want to be the best in the world." This season, he's got more offensive playmakers at his disposal. His backfield consists of J.K. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey. He's got another option in tight end Evan Engram. 'He's is not afraid to speak up. He's not afraid to challenge you and he challenges himself at the highest level," Engram said of Nix. 'I'm very impressed with him. Very blessed to be a part of his team and be his teammate. The sky's the limit with that type of mentality.' Nix is ready to take the offense to another level after a season in which they generated 111 'explosive plays,' which is defined as rushes of 10 or more yards and completions of 20-plus yards. To Nix, it's all about camaraderie. 'We don't have any clowns. We don't have any guys that are hard to get along with," Nix said. 'We just have good people, good dudes, that are just all here for one reason, and that's one team goal — just to get better.' Stadium update Broncos president Damani Leech said the organization is still weighing a new stadium or making renovations to Empower Field at Mile High. 'Our lease ends in 2030 and that's certainly a mile marker we're taking into account,' Leech said. 'It's a very comprehensive, long-term process that we're going through. We're trying to be very deliberate about it.' The Broncos are conducting training camp this summer amid construction on their new facility. ___ AP NFL: recommended Item 1 of 3
