Drew Brees Nearly Returned to the NFL in 2025 - But His Body Had Other Plans
Philip Rivers suiting up for the Colts again in 2025 was already one of the more surprising twists of the season. But it turns out he wasn’t the only retired quarterback flirting with a comeback. Drew Brees, the future Hall of Famer and longtime Saints icon, revealed he was this close to stepping back onto the field himself.
And no, it wouldn’t have been with New Orleans - or even the Chargers, where his NFL journey began. Both teams had their quarterback situations settled. But Brees said he was deep enough into conversations with at least one team that, at one point, he genuinely thought he might be playing in a game that very week.
That’s not a vague passing thought. That’s a guy who had clearly been in talks, had likely looked at a playbook or two, and was getting his arm loose.
Brees didn’t name the team, and the timeline remains a bit murky, but it’s clear the dialogue wasn’t just casual. The idea of returning to the field had some real legs.
And he wasn’t the only one teams were calling. In the midst of a season where quarterback depth was tested league-wide, even Derek Carr was reportedly contacted about a possible return. If you’re a team looking for a steady veteran presence under center, you’re flipping through the Rolodex of recently retired passers - and Brees, despite four years away from the game, still sits near the top of that list.
So, how serious did it get for Brees? Serious enough that he started training with his son, swapped out tequila for water, and began throwing again. But here’s where the comeback story hits a wall: the arm just wasn’t there.
Brees joked that he didn’t have the power to break a glass from 10 feet away - a lighthearted way of saying the shoulder and wrist weren’t cooperating. And for a quarterback whose game was built on precision, timing, and touch, that’s a dealbreaker.
He says his body feels great overall, and mentally, he’s still sharp as ever. But those lingering injuries - the ones that helped push him into retirement in the first place - were enough to keep the door closed.
Brees even went as far as saying he’d still be playing today if not for those issues. That’s a strong statement from a guy who’s been out of the league since 2020.
There’s another layer to this too: the Hall of Fame clock. Had Brees returned, even for a snap, it would’ve reset his eligibility.
Instead of being inducted in 2026, he’d have to wait until 2031. For someone with a résumé as stacked as his - Super Bowl champion, all-time passing leader (at the time of retirement), 13-time Pro Bowler - he’s a lock for first-ballot status.
But a comeback would’ve delayed the ceremony by five years. That’s a big price to pay for a short-term return.
For Rivers, the decision was a little easier to make. His Hall of Fame case isn’t as cut-and-dry, and a comeback didn’t carry the same long-term implications. But for Brees, the stakes were higher - physically, professionally, and historically.
In the end, we didn’t get to see No. 9 back on the field. But the fact that it almost happened? That says a lot about how much he still loves the game - and how much teams still believe in what he could bring, even after four years away.