What happened: Payton served as Brees' presenter during Saturday's enshrinement ceremony in Canton. The quarterback joined the Hall's five-member Class of 2026.
Why it matters: The induction caps a partnership that delivered New Orleans its first and only Super Bowl title. Brees entered Canton on the first ballot.
By the numbers: Brees retired with 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdown passes, both second in NFL history. He and Payton went 144-85 across the regular season and playoffs, tied for the second-most wins by a head coach-starting quarterback pairing.
What to watch: Attention turns to how New Orleans honors its Hall of Fame quarterback during the 2026 season.