New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was honored with his fifth ESPY on Wednesday night, receiving the award for “Best Record-Breaking Performance.” Last year, Brees broke the NFL’s all-time record for passing yards (71,940) set by Peyton Manning, as well as the mark for career completions (6,300) by Brett Favre.
The other contenders for the award included University of Oregon women’s basketball guard Sabrina Ionescu, who broke the NCAA record for triple doubles in a single season (13); Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who set an NBA mark for 3-pointers in a game (13); and Texas high school runner Matthew Boling, who recorded the fastest 100-meter dash in American history (9.98 seconds).
Brees was also on the ballot for “Best NFL Player,” along with Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Rams running back Todd Gurley. They all came up short against the reigning league MVP, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
While delivering his acceptance speech onstage in Los Angeles, Brees offered a shout out to the U.S. women’s soccer team following their second straight World Cup championship. He thanked them for representing the country well abroad and said, “You inspire us all.”
New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson was also on Brees’ radar. Williamson, who played at Duke, won the ESPY for “Best College Athlete,” facing tough competition from Ionescu as well as UCLA softball player Rachel Garcia, who was named Most Outstanding Player after leading her team to a championship in the Women’s College World Series. The ballot also included the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray.
“Zion, congratulations. Welcome to New Orleans. The city is ready for you,” Brees said to Williamson. The Saints quarterback gave Williamson a signed jersey with a note that he was “passing the torch” following the NBA Draft last month. Brees’ sons also happened to wear red suits, matching Williamson on the red carpet. It seems that legacy might be on Brees’ mind as he inches near the end of his career.
