With one star quarterback set to make a jump into the broadcast booth whenever he decides to retire, another star QB sounds as if he may be considering a return to the field following an uninspiring season working for NBC.
Former New Orleans Saints signal-caller Drew Brees, who reportedly considered a midseason return to the field to help his former team but ultimately decided against it, is weighing his options after serving as an NFL studio and game analyst last season. Brees, who also called Notre Dame games with Mike Tirico last season, will not be returning to NBC as the network has soured on the idea of the 43-year-old serving as the heir apparent to Cris Collinsworth on Sunday Night Football, according to The New York Post.
Fox could make a run at the former Saint, as could Amazon, but it sounds as if a return to the NFL as a player is also an option. As is a career as a professional pickleball player? “Despite speculation from media about my future this fall, I’m currently undecided,” Brees wrote on Twitter. “I may work for NBC, I may play football again, I may focus on business and philanthropy, I may train for the pickleball tour, senior golf tour, coach my kids or all of the above. I’ll let you know.”
Brees added even more fuel to the fire.
Were Brees to attempt an NFL comeback, it would likely only be with the Saints as New Orleans has a real need at quarterback; they currently have Jameis Winston, who was injured for most of last season, listed as the team’s starter with journeyman Andy Dalton penciled in as the backup. Even at 43, Brees would be a clear upgrade over either of those players.
Speaking about the tweet from Brees, first-year New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen said it was likely “made in jest.”
“I think it was a comment made in jest, and we certainly haven’t had any conversations in that regard,” Allen said. “I don’t really want to live in those hypothetical worlds right now. We’ll see where it all goes, but he caused a lot of interest, that’s for sure.”
A one-time Super Bowl winner, Brees is second in NFL history in career passing yards (80,358) and touchdown passes (571), behind Tom Brady in both categories. Coming out of retirement to play for the Saints would mean Brees would have to compete with Brady in the NFC South, the division where New Orleans went 9-8 last season but failed to make the postseason. It’s a nice idea, but odds are Brees does the opposite of Brady and stays retired.
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