Monday night was one for the ages. For the Saints, and the NFL. Drew Brees became the all time leader in passing yardage as the New Orleans Saints trounced the Washington Redskins in Week 5 action from the Superdome. Brees broke the record on a 62 yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith, handing the ball off to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, getting mobbed by his teammates in the middle of the field, and then getting back to work lighting up the scoreboard. After Hall of Fame president David Baker took the ball from the field, holding it with white gloves so no other human hands would touch it again, Brees sent his entire uniform to Canton to be part of a display commemorating the historic play. From New Orleans to Canton in less than 24 hours, @Saints @drewbrees uniform from when he broke the @NFL career record for most passing yards is now on display. pic.twitter.com/HqOcBTdfUF — Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) October 9, 2018 “Just not knowing when or how it was going to happen and what is going to be transpiring in the game, just the momentum and different things, so when we trot out there for the two minute drive, I think we were within striking distance, we felt like if we threw a bunch of balls all the way down the field and all of those were passing yards then we would probably be close to the record,” Brees said of his feeling prior to breaking the record. “I didn’t know it was going to happen on the first play to Tre’Quan (Smith). I don’t think it could have happened in any better fashion than it did. To have been in that moment with my teammates on the field, the offensive line. It just played out better than I even could have imagined. I tried to rehearse the scenario in my mind this week, just so I could really focus on the game, but to have a moment with Sean (Payton) and Mr. Baker, from the (Pro Football) Hall of Fame, that was just incredible.” Brees says the record breaking pass was a new play for the Saints. “It was really a new play, a new thought, just this idea that you kind of flood the zone and maybe someone pops open and that is basically what happened on that play,” he said. “There was a lot of guys out there, we threw Alvin (Kamara) out there, threw Mike (Thomas) out there, we were just running guys all over the place and I think it might have gotten them a little confused and Tre’Quan popped right open.” If Alvin Kamara caught that pass, the Hall of Fame might’ve gotten the wrong ball. “I said if I got it, then I’m going to have to go hide the ball and give Drew a dummy ball,” Kamara joked after the game. “We were thinking about it, but we never really talked about it. We knew that he was going to break it tonight. We knew that he wanted to get it.” Now, the Hall of Fame has it. Soon, they’ll have Drew Brees.<doc-sep>The football Drew Brees threw and the New Orleans Saints uniform he wore when he set the NFL record for career passing yards is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. A photo posted to Twitter by the Pro Football Hall of Fame showed the items on display inside a glass case less than 24 hours after the 39-year-old set the record. Brees, in his 18th NFL season, moved ahead of Peyton Manning's 71,940 career passing yards with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Tre'Quan Smith in the second quarter of a 43-19 victory against the Washington Redskins in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Hall of Fame president David Baker retrieved the ball from Brees on the field after he set the record. Baker handled the ball with white gloves and said "no human hand will ever touch that ball again." Among other items from Brees either on display or in storage at the Hall of Fame are the card from which his name was read at the 2001 NFL Draft as the first pick of the second round by the San Diego Chargers, his jersey from the Saints' Super Bowl 44 win and the football from when he moved ahead of Jonny Unitas for the most consecutive games with a touchdown pass.<doc-sep>
We all know it in the Who Dat Nation, but what will Drew Brees' legacy be beyond the New Orleans Saints? Some believe he should be considered the best quarterback in NFL history.The ball from Monday night's Saints game against the Washington Redskins that Brees used on the play that broke the record for all-time passing yards will go to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.When Brees decides to end his career, he'll be there, too, as a first-ballot inductee.Pro Football Hall of Fame President David Baker said Brees exemplifies the "highest level of excellence. "Watch the video for a look back at his commentary on Brees.Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up! We all know it in the Who Dat Nation, but what will Drew Brees' legacy be beyond the New Orleans Saints? Some believe he should be considered the best quarterback in NFL history. The ball from Monday night's Saints game against the Washington Redskins that Brees used on the play that broke the record for all-time passing yards will go to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When Brees decides to end his career, he'll be there, too, as a first-ballot inductee. Pro Football Hall of Fame President David Baker said Brees exemplifies the "highest level of excellence." Watch the video for a look back at his commentary on Brees. Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!