Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees hints at possible NFL return, updates TV future
On Sunday, it was reported that former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees would be leaving NBC after spending just one year as a studio and game analyst in the NFL. Now, an interesting update has emerged on the future of Brees.
Following the Saints signings of Jarvis Landry and Tyrann Mathieu, Brees went to his social media and said that those additions make him want to play football again.
“Man.. signing @juice_landry and @mathieu_era makes me want to come back and play again!!! Great additions…leaders and players,” Brees tweeted.
While a return to the NFL is probably unlikely for Brees, his message has resulted in a lot of speculation around the league. According to Peter King of NBC Sports, Brees told a friend that he is not truly talking about a return to football, and that a recent shoulder surgery would make a return difficult.
“One friend of Brees told me Sunday he hasn’t mentioned playing to him this offseason, and his left shoulder surgery May 2, at age 43, after not playing football for 16 months, would seems to make a return to football problematic at best,” King said. “Another person who knows Brees told me Sunday night, ‘He’s not playing football.'”
King mentioned the Seahawks and Panthers as other potential landing spots for Brees, should he return to the field.
Brees played in the NFL for 20 seasons. He won one Super Bowl and made 13 Pro Bowls, and ranks second in NFL history with 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdowns.
Brees tweeted again after his message mentioning a possible NFL return
Shortly after his tweet regarding Landry and Mathieu, Brees tweeted a follow-up message saying that he is “undecided” on his future. He did not specifically mention the NFL, but he said that he is completely up int he air on what he will ultimately do in the fall.
“Despite speculation from media about my future this fall, I’m currently undecided,” said Brees. “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.”
To King, he believes that his lone year at NBC could be a reason that Brees doesn’t have any answers on what his next move will be.
“There’s a chance FOX could throw Brees a lifeline and put him on one of its broadcast teams,” said King. “As of Sunday night, that seemed the most likely outcome of this suddenly in-the-news story. But it’s notable that it’s mid-May and the musical chairs are very nearly filled, and Brees is out there. Brees was a hot property after he walked away from football 14 months ago, but got mixed reviews at best in his highest-profile assignment, the Raiders-Bengals wild-card game on NBC. The fact that he didn’t make much of a name for himself in his one season at NBC could be holding him back now.”