Drew Brees Reflects on Saints’ Return to Superdome After Hurricane Katrina 20 Years Ago: ‘Not a Dry Eye’

As the New Orleans Saints prepare to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their return to the Superdome following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, former quarterback Drew Brees is reflecting on that emotional night.

When the city was ravaged by the storm in August 2005, the stadium, which suffered severe damage, infamously served as a “shelter of last resort” for thousands of evacuees and “became a symbol of despair,” Hoda Kotb noted while interviewing the retired athlete, 47, on the Today show on Monday, October 5.

Drew, who had left the San Diego Chargers after the 2005 season following an injury, was drawn to the city and its team.

“I was at a really tough place in my career. I was yearning for somebody to believe in me, and New Orleans was here wanting someone to believe in them, and that’s where the match happened,” he told Kotb, 62, as they both got emotional.

At the time, he and his wife, Brittany Brees, believed that joining the Saints was “God’s calling,” the 13-time Pro Bowl player explained. “We belong here. This is about so much greater than football, and how many opportunities do you get in your life to be a part of something like that?”

The team, who had played their “home” games in New Jersey and Texas during the 2005 NFL season, got to enter the Superdome — following $185 million in repairs, per Sports Business Journal — for their final practice before the September 25, 2006, game there, which was dubbed “Domecoming.”

“All of a sudden, the lights go out and there’s footage from the storm and interviews with members of the community. I mean, not a dry eye in the house,” Drew told Kotb.

Drew added that Sean Payton, who had just joined as head coach, “looks at us and he goes, ‘I don’t need to tell you that Monday night is going to be special.’ He’s like, ‘But it’s only special if you win!’ I mean, that was it.”

The fans were looking for a “miracle” in that game against the Atlanta Falcons, Kotb said.

“That’s what made it such a responsibility for us,” Drew agreed. “We took so much strength from our fans. Truly, that night was a symbolic moment, where we as New Orleanians had the opportunity to show the world we are not only coming back but back stronger than ever.”

Less than two minutes into the game, the Saints scored the first touchdown.

“Just the way that that erupted, the whole building, I mean you ask anybody and it is the loudest they have ever heard the dome,” recalled Drew, who later went on to win the 2010 Super Bowls with the Saints. “It was that moment. It was like, there is nobody that would beat us tonight.”

New Orleans beat Atlanta 25-3.

Tonight, the teams will face off again to mark the 20th anniversary of that historic game — and Drew, along with key players including Steve Gleason and Curtis Deloatch, will be there.

“Being out there together with the guys that were part of that journey for the reopening of the Dome, it’s going to feel like it was yesterday,” Drew predicted on Today, “and I’m sure that crowd is going to be a little wild, so we’re going to get them riled up.”

The Saints will face off against the Falcons in the Superdome at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.