Get the tissues ready.
Drew Brees provided the sports world with a tear-jerking moment on July 30, when video surfaced of the New Orleans Saints legend asking his former head coach, Sean Payton, to present him for his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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“Honest to God, I can’t believe you just did that,” an emotional Payton said. “Yeah, absolutely man.”
Payton was clearly moved by the gesture, which will officially take place on Aug. 8 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The event is slated to begin at Noon ET.
Brees will join Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri in the Hall of Fame class of 2026.
The moment will also mark the reunion of Brees and Payton, the duo that authored the most successful period in Saints’ history.
Brees spent 15 seasons with the Saints, 14 of them coached by Payton, as the head coach was suspended for the entire 2012 season as a result of the bounty scandal. Payton returned the following season, remaining with New Orleans through the remainder of Brees’ career.
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Together the pair made nine playoff appearances, winning the NFC South seven times, and won Super Bowl 44.
Brees finished his 20-year career with a 172-114 record in 287 starts, throwing for 80,358 passing yards, 571 touchdowns and 243 interceptions. He made 13 Pro Bowls and was a two-time Offensive Player of the Year, among many other accolades.
Now Brees can add first-ballot Hall of Famer to that lengthy list.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Drew Brees asks Sean Payton to present him to HOF in emotional video
