New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees passed Peyton Manning and became the NFL's career passing yardage leader in a big-time way with a 62-yard touchdown pass to rookie Tre'Quan Smith to give the Saints a 20-point lead in the second quarter. Brees threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns to lead New Orleans to a 43-19 victory over the Washington Redskins on Monday night.
He did it in front of both a prime-time national audience and the home crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Players and celebrities took to social media to offer their congratulations:
Manning taped a message to Brees, which was shown in the stadium when he broke the record.
Congratulations, @drewbrees!
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 9, 2018
Peyton Manning's really happy you broke his record.
Well ... kind of. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/aUxXIDFzI8
Other quarterbacks, past and present, also weighed in.
Congrats @drewbrees, proud to passed by a guy like you. All the best. https://t.co/CMd2G4nTZZ
— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) October 9, 2018
That was special @drewbrees and doing it with a touchdown! Congratulations
— Dan Marino (@DanMarino) October 9, 2018
Congratulation to one of the all time great QB's of our time. He's a better person then he is a QB if you can imagine that. Young men , take notice. Be like a Drew Brees. Congrats 9 ,... https://t.co/mmRNBggLGG
— Jim Kelly (@JimKelly1212) October 9, 2018
Congratulations Drew! You earned every yard and did it the right way for the right reasons #teamfirst Proud for ya!👍🏼
— Troy Aikman (@TroyAikman) October 9, 2018
Only fitting THAT is how @drewbrees breaks the all time yardage record!!! Congrats to one of the best EVA!!! Glad I was around to witness his greatness!!
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) October 9, 2018
Congrats @drewbrees! What a way to set the record. Awesome to have your family there to enjoy that moment. #Respect
— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) October 9, 2018
Drew... you have inspired me. Grateful for you for doing it for the "Short Guys." @DrewBrees
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) October 9, 2018
Congratulations @drewbrees!!
— Jared Goff (@JaredGoff16) October 9, 2018
As did a former teammate.
@drewbrees greatest competitor and hands down best QB I've ever played with! #WhoDat
— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) October 9, 2018
And another record breaker, albeit in another sport.
Salute @drewbrees!! Congrats on the achievement/milestone. Sheesh that's a lot of passing yards!! 🙏🏾🏈👑
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 9, 2018
And a few pass-catchers and defenders alike.
Congrats @drewbrees! It's been incredible to watch. They better start talking about you when they say best of all time. I know I am. 👍🏽
— Tony Gonzalez (@TonyGonzalez88) October 9, 2018
Congratulations Drew 🐐 Brees...straight legendary
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) October 9, 2018
Congrats Drew Brees! 🐐
— Mike Wallace (@Wallace17_daKid) October 9, 2018
Congrats @drewbrees on the all-time passing record!! Makes me proud to call myself a Westlake Chaparral. Just witnessed greatness tonight.
— Justin Tucker (@jtuck9) October 9, 2018
Incredible @drewbrees!!! #Legend
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 9, 2018
Drew Brees a Legend !! WOW
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) October 9, 2018
Even Ellen DeGeneres sent a message to her friend.
Drew Brees' close friend and New Orleans' own @TheEllenShow with a message for No. 9! #goSaints pic.twitter.com/N9OzS565C8
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 9, 2018
A U.S. president weighs in, plus some Magic.
Congratulations to Drew Brees on the all time passing record. Always a class act.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 9, 2018
Congratulations to @Saints quarterback @drewbrees for becoming the NFL's all-time passing leader! He beat the previous record of 71,940 yards. What a game! You deserve it.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 9, 2018