Those whispers of a potential Drew Brees return in 2021 were apparently more than rumors. While speaking with reporters today following his selection into the Saints Hall of Fame, the former quarterback acknowledged that he was serious about coming out of retirement in 2021.
[RELATED: Drew Brees: “I Would Absolutely Still Be Playing” If Not For Shoulder Injury]
“Very,” Brees answered when asked about his past interest in a comeback attempt (via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football). “I’ll just leave it at that.”
Brees decided to hang up his cleats following the 2020 campaign. His replacement, Jameis Winston, suffered a torn ACL and MCL damage only seven games into the 2021 season, leading the Saints to ask Brees if he’d consider returning for the stretch run. Brees publicly rejected the invite, but is sounds like he gave the opportunity more consideration than he let on.
Brees hinted that part of his decision was attributed to injury, a factor he’s acknowledged in the past. The quarterback didn’t believe he could properly overcome his surgically repaired throwing shoulder, although he joked with reporters that he could have just reverted to his high school playbook.
“At the end of the day, it’s like, how capable … am I to do the job, right?” Brees asked reporters (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell). “I would’ve run QB draws, I would’ve done whatever. I would’ve done some veer option. We would’ve pulled out all the stops. I was ready. Pull out the high school playbook.”
While the 2021 rumors didn’t lead to a reunion, rumors continued to persist. When Brees announced that he was stepping away from his television role, there were immediately rumblings that the quarterback could look to return to the NFL. The player himself often helped flame these rumors, and Brees believes he never completely shut the door on a return because his career lacked “closure.”
“Certainly to have it be in a situation like that where you’re not able to really be with the fans and celebrate it with all those who are so important, I felt like there was a little bit of a lack of closure,” Brees said of playing in front of mostly empty stadiums in 2020. “I try not to think about, like, the glance back in the Dome because I wish it would’ve been with a packed house. That energy that is so synonymous with the Superdome that I’ll always remember and what we always fed off every game day. My image of the Dome is much different than that last one.”
I heard Brett Favre is serious about returning to the NFL too, but Green Bay said they already have a equipment manager.
It’s a true shame that Brees didn’t get to retire completely on his terms. He was noticeably affected by his injury-that Bucs playoff game was a sore disappointment, with New Orleans’ injuries costing us the opportunity to see them play at their best. Brees looked like a shell of himself, but did enough to give them a good chance to win in the first half. It felt unjust to see someone who got overlooked so many times (it’s insane that he never won an MVP) not get one last chance to play his best in a big moment.
Brees didn’t have Manning’s fortune in having his defense return the favor of boosting him over the hump for his final time in the playoffs, and given the effect that his injury had on his play, I think that we all got robbed on what could have been a better performance in his final games. Also like Manning, Brees is one of less than five quarterbacks who could probably still be a plus player with half an arm, just through sheer offensive knowledge. Still, he had a great and storied career that deserved to be remembered as one of the best of all time.
Believe most recently retired players think they got a lil left in tank, that they have 1 more go @league in em, n it would be really swell if they re-retire holding SB trophy @end of triumphant return. It’s non-story filler … shoulda, coulda, woulda. “I can throw a football over that mountain.” Fantasy Rumors.
Yeah, this is the one aspect of the off-season I could do without. Tony Jefferson mentions a comeback so J.J Watt follows his lead and then the next guy will step up to bat to share his fantasy. Why can’t these guys just go quietly into that good night?