Sean Payton surprised Drew Brees at QB's Saints Hall of Fame ceremony before 'TNF'

The New Orleans Saints added former quarterback Drew Brees to their Hall of Fame on Thursday with a special guest in attendance.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton as well as fellow ex-Saints assistants Joe Lombardi, Zach Strief and Pete Carmichael surprised the former quarterback and attended the ceremony on Thursday afternoon, according to The Times-Picayune‘s Jeff Duncan.

Payton and the Broncos are preparing to face the Saints on Thursday Night Football tonight in New Orleans. Saints owner Gayle Benson was the only one who knew Payton would attend Brees’ ceremony.

Payton received a standing ovation at the ceremony and then turned his attention toward TNF as he left:

The Saints will also recognize Brees at halftime of tonight’s game.

It’s a fitting game for the team to honor Brees because it marks Payton’s return to New Orleans. Brees, of course, played 15 years under Payton, helping the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season.

Payton will be busy when Brees is honored at halftime tonight, but he was able to stop by the ceremony this afternoon.

“I’m sure there will be the right moment to reach out to him,” Payton said earlier this week when asked about Brees. “He’s going into their Hall of Fame, and then they also have a Ring of Honor. I don’t know what year it is now [for Pro Football Hall of Fame eligibility], but this will be the beginning of a number of [honors for Brees]. He wanted it to be this game, and that means something, but the focus for us still and our team.”

Payton is obviously happy for Brees, but he attempted to keep the focus on the game leading up to TNF.

“I told them this [Tuesday] morning, is we’re in the business of collecting wins, and this is the next one we have to get. The preparation and all of it. Years later, we’ll be able to look back on it, but right now [it’s] focused.”

Brees will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.