Peyton Manning: Drew Brees “Deserves” to Break My Passing Records

The prolific Saints QB could surpass Manning’s career passing yards and TDs this season.

The quarterback who broke Peyton Manning’s heart in the Super Bowl is likely going to break his all-time passing records as well. And, to his credit, Manning sounds perfectly okay that Drew Brees will be the man to do it.

Brees, who led the Saints to a 31–17 win over the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, should surpass Manning’s career passing yards mark this season and has an outside shot of shattering his mark for touchdown passes later in his career.

Manning’s lifetime totals, which are both all-time NFL records, are 71,940 and 539, meaning 39-year-old Brees needs just 1,496 yards and 51 touchdown passes to best the retired QB.

Realizing how close his former rival is to passing him, Manning said it’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when Brees passes his passing record.

“He deserves it. He’s been a great player for a long time,” Manning said per NOLA.com. “I know Drew feels the same way, you never play for individual records,” Manning said. “Drew has been the ultimate team player. It’s all about helping your team win. I know when he breaks any of these records it’s not going to mean as much to him if the Saints don’t win the game that day.”

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