As he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Drew Brees was remembered mostly for his time on the Saints. But in his induction speech, Brees spoke fondly about his time with the Chargers, and particularly about one of his Hall of Fame teammates.
LaDainian Tomlinson and Brees first met in high school, spent time together as Heisman Trophy finalists in college and were the Chargers’ first- and second-round picks in the 2001 NFL draft. Brees made special mention of how much Tomlinson meant to him.
“What made it even sweeter is I was joining the guy they drafted in the first round, Hall of Famer and one of the greatest running backs in history, LaDainian Tomlinson,” Brees said of getting drafted. “Not many people know this: LT and I grew up two hours from each other and played on the South Texas All-Star team together in 1997. We found our way back together four years later as Heisman Trophy finalists. At the Heisman presentation we both made the statement: ‘Wouldn’t it be something if we ended up on the same team?’ LT, I always felt a strong kinship with you. We had so much in common. Drafted the same year, married the same year, won the Walter Payton Man of the Year the same year. We grew up together quickly in this league. I credit so many things in my career to the five years I spent with the Chargers.”
After Brees’ fifth season, the Chargers decided to let him leave for New Orleans in free agency. The loud contingent of Saints fans in Canton, Ohio, this weekend are glad it worked out that way, and so is Brees. But Brees is also grateful for his time in San Diego, and for having Tomlinson as a teammate.
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