Whether the season ends with him cradling a Lombardi Trophy in his arms or not, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is reportedly going to have a microphone instead of a football in his hand to start the 2021 NFL season.
The Saints “fully expect” that Brees will retire at the end of the season to transition to his gig with NBC as a broadcaster, according to NFL reporter Dov Kleiman.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared more details on Sunday NFL Countdown.
“Everybody expects after this season Drew Brees will retire,” Schefter said. “They thought that last year and he surprised them in March by deciding to come back. This time, he’s got a signed contract with NBC. This time, he’s another year older. This time, he’s played through the 11 fractured ribs, the punctured lung. It’s been a difficult, physical season and I think most people still believe that this will be the final season for Drew Brees in New Orleans and in the NFL before he turns to the broadcast booth.”
After playing in 12 of 16 games, Brees finished the regular season with just 24 touchdowns passes, the second-fewest during his tenure with the Saints.
New Orleans, who will host the Bears in the opening round of the playoffs on Sunday, has gone 8-1 with backup quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill starting in place of Brees the last two years. While the Saints may roll with Hill as their starter in 2021, it is possible the team will draft a quarterback or bring in a veteran QB via free agency.
Once he begins at NBC, it is believed Brees will serve as an analyst during Notre Dame college football games and also join the studio crew for the network’s flagship football show, Football Night in America, which airs before Sunday Night Football.
Eventually, the expectation is that 41-year-old Brees will replace 61-year-old Cris Collinsworth in the SNF booth.
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