It might sound crazy, but Drew Brees thought about coming out of retirement last NFL season.
Brees, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past summer, had an incredible run with the New Orleans Saints. The Super Bowl champion and 13-time Pro Bowler finished his NFL career with 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdowns.
Even though Brees retired at the end of the 2020 season, the Denver Broncos reached out to him prior to last January’s AFC Championship. Sean Payton was hoping he could fill in for an injured Bo Nix.
“After the Broncos lost starting quarterback Bo Nix to a fractured ankle in their overtime playoff victory against the Bills, Denver’s then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive assistant Pete Carmichael had discussions with Brees about the former star quarterback coming out of retirement to be ready for the AFC Championship Game, sources told ESPN,” Adam Schefter wrote. “Brees had turned 47 years old just two days before Nix suffered the ankle injury on Jan. 17.”
Schefter said Brees tried to give it a go, but he immediately felt discomfort in his wrist after conducting a workout. As a result, he gave up the chance to compete for another Super Bowl.
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It would’ve been a rough return.
Back in 2024, Brees said his right shoulder was pretty much dead once he retired.
“Honestly, man, if my right arm was still working, I probably would’ve played another three years,” Brees said. “My body feels great. My body can play. My right arm can’t. Unfortunately that’s what kind of forced me to step away. And it was time too.”
While a return to the NFL would’ve been quite storyline, Brees probably made the right call staying retired. After all, it would’ve been odd seeing him in a Broncos uniform.
