NEW ORLEANS — Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees and current signal-caller Tyler Shough traded helmets for bats during Savannah Bananas exhibition games staged inside the Caesars Superdome.
The touring Bananas, known for their fan-focused “Banana Ball” format with singing, stunts and surprise guests, converted the Superdome into a baseball field — the first time the venue has hosted baseball since 2004. The crowd-filled shows mix on-field entertainment with the sport itself, featuring everything from choreographed routines to celebrity appearances.
Brees, who played for the Saints from 2006-2020 and is slated for Pro Football Hall of Fame induction this summer, was introduced as a Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer to a roaring ovation. The former high school baseball player stepped to the plate Sunday for one at-bat and grounded out, and he led fans in the pregame chant he helped popularize during the Saints’ 2009 Super Bowl season.
Shough, who also played baseball growing up, made his appearance Saturday. He was presented in a black Saints jersey, peeled it away to reveal a bright yellow Savannah Bananas uniform, gathered teammates in a huddle, ran a playful scoring play where he tossed a mock “touchdown,” and posed for a group selfie. He likened the sold-out atmosphere to Saints playoff games and said the energy on display is the kind the team needs to reach that level.
Both men’s appearances were woven into the Bananas’ lively exhibitions, which continue to blur the line between sport and entertainment and draw enthusiastic crowds at the Superdome.
