Drew Brees: Eli Manning, Philip Rivers Will Be Hall of Famers

Canton, Ohio — During Super Bowl weekend, newly minted Hall of Fame inductee Drew Brees told TMZ Sports that several of his veteran quarterback contemporaries are destined for bronze busts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brees, who will be enshrined with the Class of 2026, singled out Eli Manning and Philip Rivers as future locks for football’s ultimate honor.

“Certainly [Eli] is one of them. Belichick is one of them. Rivers is one of them,” Brees said. “You have all these guys that at some point, their time is going to come.”

The former Saints signal-caller also voiced surprise that Bill Belichick was not selected in his first year of eligibility, calling the omission a temporary setback. “I think we would all acknowledge that Belichick deserves to be here. We are not the voters, you know, so I think what we are going to do is focus on the class that is here,” Brees added.

While Brees described his own impending induction as “incredible,” he emphasized that the gold jacket is not the centerpiece of his legacy. “I would rather my family have it,” he said. “Football does not define you. Being in the Hall of Fame does not define you. What defines you is your faith, family, and your spirit.”

Drew Brees Says Eli Manning, Philip Rivers Will Be Hall of Famers https://t.co/EDDaQtsxIU pic.twitter.com/TPkAORyOaE