[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 14, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING DREW BREES'S RETIREMENT FROM THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE SCALISE

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 14, 2021

  Mr. SCALISE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Drew Brees, his 
legacy as a New Orleans Saint in the National Football League, and his 
dedication to the people of the City of New Orleans. Drew's retirement 
comes after completing twenty seasons in the NFL, fifteen of which were 
played as the starting quarterback of my hometown team, the New Orleans 
Saints. In fact, he chose to retire on March 14, 2021, the fifteen-year 
anniversary of his signing with the Saints.
  Since 2005, Drew has taken the field dressed in black and gold and 
sparked the greatest era yet for the Saints franchise. For the last 
fifteen years, Brees has led one of the most explosive offensive teams 
in NFL history, marching the Saints to seven NFC South titles and 
winning the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl in 2010. You can take a 
guess who the MVP was for Super Bowl XLIV.
  I could go on and on about how Drew Brees is one of the best football 
players of all time. How he is the NFL all-time leader in career 
passing yards, passes completed, passes completed per game, and total 
offensive yards. Or that he has the most seasons with 5,000+ passing 
yards, has been selected for 13 Pro Bowls, or that he has showcased his 
accuracy by holding the all-time single season record for his passing 
completion percentage at 74.4 percent. These achievements are 
unparalleled. In addition to Drew's accomplishments on the field, I 
also want to recognize and honor the positive impact Drew Brees has 
made on New Orleans and the entire State of Louisiana.
  Drew came to New Orleans during one of our darkest times. Hurricane 
Katrina had taken over 1,800 lives and flooded the vibrant, historic 
crown jewel of the South. The iconic Louisiana Superdome, home to the 
Saints and regularly filled with cheering fans on Sundays, was filled 
with many of those same people who were now evacuees, some of whom had 
lost everything they owned.
  The Saints are more than just a football team in New Orleans. After 
Katrina, the Saints gave us hope. The Saints are as much a part of the 
soul of New Orleans as our world-famous cuisine and the jazz music and 
brass bands that fill the French Quarter. Drew Brees changed our New 
Orleans Saints forever, bringing historic success to the franchise and 
giving the city hope, with something to finally celebrate through the 
grueling struggles of rebuilding. As the Saints organization put it, 
Drew came to us at our lowest point, and brought us to its highest.
  A known leader in the locker room, Drew is also a leader off the 
field. Winner of the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award, Drew 
and his wife Brittany founded the Brees Dream Foundation, which has 
contributed more than $45 million globally to cancer patients and 
families in need. In the last year, the Brees family personally 
committed $5 million to Louisiana to assist with COVID-19 relief 
efforts.
  To close, I'd like to read Brees' own inspirational words from his 
retirement letter, addressed openly to the city and to the famed Who 
Oat Nation. ``From the moment I stepped foot into the city of New 
Orleans, I could feel your spirit. You told me that if I loved New 
Orleans, you would love me back. No truer words have ever been spoken. 
``Drew, I wholeheartedly agree, and your place in the history of the 
city will live forever. Jennifer and I wish you, Brittany, and your 
beautiful young kids all the best as you now begin the next chapter of 
your Hall of Fame life.

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