Drew Brees and Peyton Manning are now tied in their number of Superbowl titles after the New Orleans Saints pummeled the Indianapolis Colts in a 31-17 win in Super Bowl XLIV. Both football all-stars now have one Super Bowl ring to their name, though it’s questionable whether we can really compare Football greats based on the number of Super Bowl rings they own. Can we really say that someone like former New York Giant Jeff Hostetler (who has one Super Bowl ring to his name) is superior to Dan Marino (who has no Super Bowl rings)?

Brees certainly outshined every other quarterback this year, including Manning. There were comparisons abound, likening him to Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger. So many fans were ready to see Manning add another crown to his wall of titles, but now there is talk of the new guy in town. Brees presents Manning with perhaps the biggest threat—a fresh quarterback who is just beginning to shine and steal the spotlight from an established quarterback legend.

In Sunday’s Super Bowl, Brees adapted to all the maneuvers the Colts slid by him. Using strategies not dissimilar from Manning—responding effectively to whatever carefully planned player strategies were thrown his way—Brees took apart Manning’s defenses, effectively using players Reggie Bush, Marques Colston along the sidelines and, of course, Lance Moore for the unforgettable two-pointer at the end.

Even if he never adds another Super Bowl ring to his name, Drew Brees is the football star of the moment.