Hoda Kotb gets emotional after interviewing Drew Brees about $5M donation

The TODAY show anchor was moved by Brees’ efforts to help Louisiana during the coronavirus outbreak.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his wife, Brittany, announced on Instagram on Thursday that they’re donating $5 million to the state of Louisiana to help people during the global coronavirus pandemic, which is hitting New Orleans and the state particularly hard.

Brees wrote on Instagram that he’s teaming up with several organizations to help deliver more than 10,000 meals a day “throughout Louisiana for as long as it takes to children on meal programs, seniors, and families in need.”

So Friday, Brees was a guest on the TODAY show and spoke to Hoda Kotb about what he said was doing his part for the relief effort.

About the donation, Brees said:

“There are so many people in need right now, and obviously the state of Louisiana thrives on small businesses. We’re a hospitality state. And so many people have been affected by this around the country and especially New Orleans. So when Brittany and I think about New Orleans or people’s greatest or just basic needs, that is to make sure they and their family are fed and they can continue to sustain.”

The Saints quarterback and Kotb — who worked at a CBS affiliate in New Orleans from 1992 to 1998 before joining NBC News — spoke about a variety of issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak, including New Orleans coach Sean Payton testing positive for the virus.

And by the end of the interview, Kotb was understandably emotional because of Brees’ generosity toward a city and state that clearly still mean so much to her.

Here’s what Brees had to say about Payton’s diagnosis after speaking with the coach a couple times since then:

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