Most believe that Saints quarterback and slam-dunk HOFer Drew Brees will retire at season’s end. New Orleans has prepared for just such a scenario, as it agreed to an extension with Taysom Hill this offseason to keep Hill under club control through 2021.
However, GM Mickey Loomis said in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio that no decisions have been made one way or another with respect to Brees’ future (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). Loomis added that, if Brees wants to return, the Saints will welcome him back.
“We give him his space, we give him time at the end of the season to determine that, and we’ll see what happens next year,” Loomis said. “I’m not counting him out. It’s going to be entirely up to him.”
If the Saints, who have dealt with heartbreaking playoff exits over the past couple of seasons, are able to capture the Lombardi Trophy this year, it would certainly be a surprise to see Brees come back. After all, he has already signed a deal with NBC Sports, and his transition to the broadcast booth is expected to be a seamless one. But if New Orleans should suffer another difficult defeat, perhaps the soon-to-be 42-year-old will try one last time for a second championship ring. Like Hill, he is under contract through 2021.
Brees has clearly lost some arm strength, but he continued to play at a high level in 2020, even though he and star wideout Michael Thomas were only on the field together in three games. Brees once again completed over 70% of his passes and threw for 24 TDs against just six interceptions en route to a 106.4 quarterback rating. He missed just four games despite suffering 11 fractured ribs and a collapsed lung, and he will lead his troops against the Bears on Sunday afternoon, a matchup in which the Saints are heavily favored.
Even if Brees retires I doubt highly the Taysom is the future QB in New Orleans.
They make it sound like Hill is no-doubt the next Saints QB. It seemed like they were pleased with Taysom at QB for those games that he started in place of Brees
maybe need to find a new GM then…
Hill has his spots but I don’t see a full time WB spot for him
They should’ve started Jameis Winston. Higher upside. Taysom Hill has the makes of a journeyman QB.
Saints are about to go through budget hell next year. Curious if there’s any way around it all.
I suppose they could put a bounty on the team financial officers.
Ha!
I’d trade for minshew to be the air to brees, similar player small with a solid but not great arm. Even if brees comes back for 1 more year they can have minshew grow under brees and watch how he operates
Air? You mean heir?
i think he meant Air… That’s what he said!
Brees is just a tremendous QB! Guys like him, Brady and Ben are just irreplaceable! What does age mean anyway!? It’s just a number to some. Age is so overrated…
Arm strength is over rated. Accuracy…reading defense….quick decisions…those traits in a QB gets you wins and rings. Montana, Brees, Brady, Mannings, ARogers….