The Broncos reached out to Drew Brees last year about a possible comeback, and the former Saints star seriously considered it before the idea fell apart.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive assistant Pete Carmichael contacted Brees about coming out of retirement after the team lost Bo Nix for the season with a fractured ankle. Schefter reports that Brees mulled the possibility of playing for Denver in the AFC title game.
Brees, though, wanted to test himself first. He reportedly planned to work out and see how his body responded, but discomfort in his wrist ended the conversation.
One notable wrinkle: Schefter says neither Lombardi nor Carmichael informed Broncos head coach Sean Payton about their talks with Brees at the time. The two coaches reportedly wanted to gauge whether Brees was even open to returning before bringing Payton into the loop. Payton later learned about the discussions during the offseason.
Brees had already hinted that something like this happened, saying previously that he “had some conversations” about a potential return, without saying what the opportunity was.
The timing made the idea especially interesting. Philip Rivers had done something similar last year, stepping in at quarterback for the Colts down the stretch.
Brees retired after the 2020 season, then moved into broadcasting with NBC. New Orleans also reached out to him, along with Josh McCown and Philip Rivers, after injuries and COVID issues left Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian unavailable. Brees stayed retired then as well.
He left the door open again in May of 2022 after departing NBC Sports, but nothing came of it. Later that year, in December 2022, he joined Purdue as an interim assistant coach.
Brees is 47 now and was just inducted into the Hall of Fame. A former second-round pick of the Chargers in 2001, he spent five seasons in San Diego before signing with the Saints as a free agent in 2006. He went on to play 12 seasons in New Orleans and agreed to a new two-year, $50 million contract with the Saints in 2020.
Over 20 seasons and 287 games, Brees threw for 80,358 yards, completed 67.7 percent of his passes, and finished with 571 touchdowns and 243 interceptions. He was a 13-time Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro in 2006.
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