Drew Brees Receives Hall of Fame Gold Jacket From Joe Montana Ahead of Canton Enshrinement

Drew Brees officially has his gold jacket. New Orleans Saints legend and second all-time in NFL passing yards, Brees received the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s signature gold jacket Friday night in Canton, Ohio, with fellow Hall of Famer Joe Montana doing the honors of placing it on him. The moment came one day before Brees’ formal enshrinement into the Class of 2026, according to Fox 8 New Orleans.

The Gold Jacket Dinner took place at the Canton Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center, starting at 5 p.m. ET with cocktails and dinner before the Class of 2026 walked out in front of thousands of guests and returning Hall of Famers, per Fox 8. Brees received his jacket alongside classmates Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri. The jacket is one of three symbols of Hall of Fame membership, along with the bronze bust unveiled at enshrinement and the Ring of Excellence presented afterward.

Brees called the week a chance to thank the people who got him to Canton. “The way I really look at it is this is my opportunity to convey my appreciation and gratitude to so many of the people, the places that were a part of this journey,” he said Thursday, according to Fox 8.

Montana’s Role Carries Its Own Weight

Montana handing Brees the jacket wasn’t random pageantry. It connects two of the position’s most decorated passers — a four-time Super Bowl champion presenting the gold jacket to the quarterback who delivered New Orleans its only Lombardi Trophy. Saints QB analyst outlet ClutchPoints reported that Sean Payton, Brees’ head coach for all 15 of his Saints seasons, will handle the formal induction speech Saturday, while Montana took care of the jacket presentation the night before.

Chase Daniel, who backed up Brees in New Orleans for four seasons, posted about witnessing it in person. Daniel wrote on X: “Joe Montana presenting Drew Brees with his Hall of Fame Gold Jacket for the first time ever…LEGEND”

A Golden Night Indeed @Saints https://t.co/PyxUR6tcaN pic.twitter.com/wAVky27fuA

— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) August 8, 2026

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s own account also marked the moment. The Hall posted: “Drew Brees officially receives his NFL Gold Jacket”

Drew Brees officially receives his NFL Gold Jacket 🔥

(via @ProFootballHOF) pic.twitter.com/m7q03C6xLo

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 8, 2026

Former Teammates Send Him Off

The Saints’ own social accounts spent the day rolling out tributes. A hype video narrated by longtime teammate Taysom Hill carried the caption “Drew Brees brought more than talent. He brought belief.”

Drew Brees brought more than talent. He brought belief.

🎤 @T_Hill4 pic.twitter.com/WsYPsGmc8J

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 7, 2026

Reporter Jon Sokoloff shared a roundtable of Cam Jordan, Alvin Kamara, Terron Armstead, Mark Ingram and Payton reflecting on Brees’ career the day before the ceremony. Sokoloff posted: “Cam Jordan, Alvin Kamara, Terron Armstead, Mark Ingram and Sean Payton discussed the Saints QB’s greatness and tomorrow’s big day in Canton.”

Drew Brees' official enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame will take place tomorrow.

Cam Jordan, Alvin Kamara, Terron Armstead, Mark Ingram and Sean Payton discussed the Saints QB's greatness and tomorrow's big day in Canton.

Full: https://t.co/ti7Ek8unmb pic.twitter.com/KSFT0jLlDa

— Jon Sokoloff (@JonSokoloff) August 7, 2026

The Saints’ verified account also posted a short reaction to the jacket moment itself: “Drew Brees in gold, it just makes sense,” the team wrote

Drew Brees in gold, it just makes sense. pic.twitter.com/6V3yovKGIw

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 8, 2026

Fans picked up the thread from there. One supporter framed it in franchise terms, posting that Montana putting the jacket on Brees reflected what Brees had done for New Orleans — lifting the organization “to the ranks of the greats.”

Joe Montana putting a gold jacket onto Drew Brees! That's what Drew Brees did for the New Orleans Saints. He lifted them up to the ranks of the greats.
WHO DAT https://t.co/tK7K3OcA3g

— Steve Netniss (@SteveNetniss) August 8, 2026

Another fan reacted separately, saying he hoped a framed photo of Brees and Montana walking together would surface from the night.

My dad grew up idolizing Joe Montana. I grew up watching Drew Brees. I might have to get this picture framed for the both of us. https://t.co/BIvXzuGZMU

— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) August 8, 2026

Why Brees’ Path to Canton Runs Through New Orleans

Brees didn’t start in New Orleans. He signed with the Saints in free agency in 2006 only after Miami backed away from a deal amid concerns about his surgically repaired throwing shoulder, following his exit from the San Diego Chargers. He arrived in a city still digging out from Hurricane Katrina, with the Superdome itself among the damaged buildings.

What followed reshaped the franchise. Brees threw for more yards and touchdowns than any quarterback in Saints history, breaking records that had stood since Archie Manning’s era. He was the Super Bowl XLIV MVP after leading New Orleans past Indianapolis in the 2009 season, the only championship in franchise history. That run is the backbone of why Payton, his coach for that title, is the one delivering Saturday’s induction speech.

Brees becomes the 11th Pro Football Hall of Famer connected to the Saints organization, and the first player in franchise history to earn first-ballot induction, according to the New Orleans Saints’ official site.

Brees, Fitzgerald, Kuechly, Vinatieri and Craig are set for formal enshrinement Saturday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, with the ceremony airing on both ESPN and NFL Network starting at 11 a.m. CT, according to Yahoo Sports.