CANTON, Ohio – It started to hit on Thursday: He’s two days removed from football immortality.
The months of anticipation and planning are almost over. Brees’ official enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is less than 48 hours away, and the reality is starting to sink in for the former New Orleans Saints standout.
“Being around the other Hall of Famers this week, they're just looking at me different,” Brees said. “The interaction feels different. It's like they're welcoming you into a very exclusive club, and there's just kind of a look and a feel about it that is different.”
Brees’ whirlwind week started to gain steam Thursday as the crowds swelled and the events multiplied, leading to the official enshrinement ceremony Saturday. Brees, along with his classmates from the Class of 2026 — Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri — visited with fans for an autograph-signing session and then met with reporters for their official Hall of Fame press conference. The group attended the Hall of Fame game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers on Thursday night and was introduced to the crowd before the game.
Brees is scheduled to appear at a promotional event Friday morning and then will join his Hall classmates along with 117 fellow Hall of Famers for the ceremonial walk to the Hall of Fame for a group photo shoot on the Hall’s front steps. Later, he will attend the Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket dinner at the Canton Memorial Civic Center on Friday night, where his former coach and presenter, , will fit him with his gold Hall of Fame jacket.
Saturday will begin with a ride in the annual Hall of Fame parade in downtown Canton, leading up to the official enshrinement ceremony at noon (Eastern time) at the stadium.
“What we’ve been told is that it’s going to be five days that are just a total blur,” Brees said during his 20-minute briefing with reporters. “You work so hard and stress so much leading up to the moment; we’re really trying to enjoy the moment.”
Brees compared the weekend to “a massive wedding ceremony.” He said his wife, Brittany, has helped him coordinate and organize the logistics for the nearly 500 friends, family members and former coaches and teammates in the Brees party.
“This is my opportunity to convey my appreciation and gratitude to so many of the people and places that were a part of this journey,” Brees said. “That’s what I’m most looking forward to: all the people I’m going to have a chance to see and appreciate and let them know just how valued they are.”