Former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas spent several seasons catching passes from Drew Brees, leading to a meaningful connection between the pair.
With Brees officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Class of 2026, Thomas used the occasion to take a shot at NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport over one of his previous opinions about the legendary quarterback.
Michael Thomas Digs Up Old Ian Rapoport Take on Drew Brees
Brees stood beside his bronze bust in front of Who Dat Nation as he officially took his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brees delivered an emotional message during his induction speech to New Orleans, saying the city had entrusted him with “the soul of the city” and that he “would have died to protect that calling.”
For Saints fans, it was another reminder of just how deeply Brees understands what New Orleans means to the people who call it home.
Even after his retirement, Brees’ connection to New Orleans remains strong, and Saints quarterback Tyler Shough recently reflected on Brees’ significance during an appearance on the “Rich Eisen Show,” describing his impact on the franchise and its supporters as “unparalleled.”
As discussions about Brees’ legacy continued, Thomas dug up a 2014 social media post by Rapoport questioning whether Brees was nearing the end of his effectiveness.
“This is a good one… we all know what happens next,” Thomas wrote, tagging the account Freezing Cold Takes.
This is a good one @OldTakesExposed , we all know what happens next. https://t.co/oVL5QptREu
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) August 10, 2026
The original Rapoport post, dated Nov. 30, 2014, stated: “Drew Brees is 35 years old & #Saints have seen arm strength wane. He’s not big like Brady or Manning. #Saints must be prepared for the end.”
REDRAFT THE ENTIRE NFL: PFN’s FREE NFL Ultimate Redraft Simulator
However, Brees went on to play six more seasons in New Orleans and produced one of the most phenomenal stretches of late-career quarterback play in NFL history.
He threw for 4,870 yards in 2015, leading the NFL in passing yards for the sixth time in his career despite missing a game because of injury. He followed that with another league-leading campaign in 2016, throwing for 5,208 yards.
Brees continued to produce at an elite level late in his career, setting an NFL record at the time with a 74.4% completion rate in 2018, and continued posting impressive passer ratings well into his late 30s and early 40s.
Brees retired after the 2020 season, finishing his career with 80,358 passing yards and 571 passing touchdowns, both second all-time. By the conclusion of his career in New Orleans, he won two Offensive Player of the Year awards, earned 13 Pro Bowl selections, and was named a first-team All-Pro once.
With all these achievements, Brees became a first-ballot selection and joined a class that includes Adam Vinatieri, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, and Roger Craig.
Thomas’ decision to revisit Rapoport’s decade-old assessment is another reminder of how dramatically the quarterback’s career continued to evolve after those 2014 questions were raised.
