NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Drew Brees is more than just a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in New Orleans — he’s a symbol of the city’s resilience, recovery, and hope. Nearly 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, Brees is reflecting on the Saints’ iconic return to the Superdome and the lasting bond he shares with the city that became his home.
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In an conversation ahead of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Brees looked back on that unforgettable night — September 25, 2006 — when the Saints returned to a renovated Superdome for the first time since the storm. But what most people don’t know is that Brees nearly missed it.
“I left three hours early,” Brees said, “but the city was already flooding — not with water, but with traffic.”
Stuck in gridlock, the quarterback didn’t yet know the backroads of his new city. As the clock ticked, panic set in.
“It was like that nightmare…that dream where you can’t get your uniform on,” he said.
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He even considered ditching his SUV and running to the Dome. When he finally arrived, he scraped his vehicle against metal water pipes in the parking garage and had to call security to take over so he could make it to the field.
But once he stepped into the stadium, the chaos faded.
“The roar of the crowd just swallowed you,” Brees recalled.
The fans — many still rebuilding their homes and lives — filled the stadium with emotion and energy. It was more than just a game.
The Superdome, once a shelter during the storm, had become a stage for hope and healing.
“Coach [Sean] Payton told us, ‘It’s only special if you win,’” Brees said.
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And win they did. Steve Gleason’s legendary blocked punt set the tone for a 23-3 victory over the Atlanta Falcons — a moment that is forever etched in NFL and New Orleans history.
“The Saints needed the community… and the community needed the Saints,” Brees said.
Just a few years later, Brees and his team would bring the city to even greater heights — hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in 2010 after a Super Bowl win in Miami, with his infant son Baylen in his arms and confetti falling around them.
Today, Brees and his wife Brittany continue to give back through the Brees Dream Foundation, which has helped rebuild schools, playgrounds, and communities across the region.
“What’s going to bring people back?” Brees said. “Schools… playgrounds…”
Now, as the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches on August 29, Brees will once again find himself on the sidelines — this time as a proud father coaching 16-year-old Baylen in a high school football game.
“I love the game,” he said. “No matter what level.”
From near disaster in the Dome parking garage to Super Bowl glory and life as a football dad, Brees says the journey has been unforgettable.
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“All of us collectively came back stronger.”
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