Drew Brees deserved a send-off similar to Ben Roethlisberger’s

Drew Brees hasn’t played a single snap in the NFL this season after he called it a career following the New Orleans Saints‘ playoff loss last season. Typically in those moments when a player knows he’s retiring, he takes it all in and gets a proper send-off.

Unfortunately for Brees, he retired in the first NFL season during the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant there were little fans in the stands in the Superdome to wish him farewell and thank him for his efforts.

NFL fans got to see how a send-off should be done on Monday night when Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger played his final game at Heinz Field.

Not only did Big Ben and his Steelers win the game and keep their playoff hopes alive, but the long-time Steelers quarterback was able to take a final knee as the starting signal-caller. Afterwards, he took a lap around the stadium and in epic fashion, he got to walk into the tunnel for the final time with his wife and kids by his side.

It was an emotional moment to watch even for non-Steelers fans and all Saints fans could think about was how it sucks that Brees didn’t get to have that moment in front of New Orleans last season.

Drew Brees deserved a send-off for the ages

When Brees broke the all-time passing touchdowns record in the 2019 season, his wife and kids got to come onto the field to congratulate him and it was a touching moment. The game stopped for several minutes while Brees took in the moment and New Orleans made sure he felt appreciated.

Just imagine what his final game in the Dome could have looked like were it not for the pandemic.

The franchise did have Brees as a guest at halftime on Thanksgiving night when he was also on the call in the broadcast booth but it’s not the same. We’ll never get to have that moment of Brees taking a lap around the Dome while fans scream his name or him walking into the tunnel one last time with his family by his side.

It’s really unfortunate.