New Orleans Saints great Drew Brees, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, recently weighed in on the ongoing debate over former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s candidacy. Brees, a Hall of Famer himself, told Fox News Digital that Manning’s career merits induction.

Why Brees supports Manning

“He is,” Brees said, adding that evaluating quarterbacks involves looking at a player’s body of work, consistency, and championships. He highlighted Manning’s two Super Bowl victories, his durability – 210 consecutive regular‑season games – and the way he helped elevate the era’s competition.

Brees noted that Manning played alongside other elite signal‑callers such as his brother Peyton, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers, creating “epic battles” that pushed each of them to higher performance levels.

Critics of Manning’s résumé

Opponents argue that Manning’s regular‑season record (117‑117) and lack of first‑team All‑Pro selections weaken his case. They also point to his three seasons leading the league in interceptions and a career completion percentage of 60.3 percent.

Nevertheless, Brees emphasized Manning’s clutch performances in the playoffs, especially his two victories over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI, as evidence of a Hall‑of‑Fame‑worthy resume.

Beyond the field

Outside football, Brees is a businessman, co‑owner of the Walk‑on’s Sports Bistreaux franchise, which began in Louisiana and now operates more than 80 locations. He also partners with DirecTV for Business, providing live sports and entertainment to bars and restaurants nationwide.

“We pride ourselves on family‑friendly, Louisiana‑inspired cuisine,” Brees said of his sports‑bar concept. “The partnership with DirecTV for Business lets us bring every college and pro game to our guests, creating a community atmosphere where fans can gather and make new friends.”

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.