The NFL has been witnessing a seismic shift in its quarterback hierarchy. With legends like Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning hanging up their cleats, and other notable names such as Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, and Phillip Rivers following suit, the league's landscape is evolving. Now, the veterans leading the charge include a seasoned Aaron Rodgers and a resilient Matthew Stafford, who seems to be deftly outmaneuvering Father Time.
Stafford's continued success isn't just a testament to his physical prowess but also to some sage advice he received from Brees. During an appearance on the Green Light with Chris Long YouTube show, Stafford shared insights from a pivotal conversation with Brees before the 2025 season.
At 37, Stafford was contemplating his future, a natural reflection for a player drafted first overall back in 2009. But Brees' words struck a chord: "You might have your best five years of your career coming up."
This perspective lit a fire in Stafford, reinforcing the notion that an "old guy" can still deliver on the field.
And deliver he did. Stafford's 2025 season was nothing short of spectacular.
Leading the Rams to a 12-5 record, he not only clinched the NFL's Most Valuable Player award but also topped the league in passing yards (4,707) and set a personal best with 46 touchdown passes. His performance earned him first-team All-Pro honors, a Pro Bowl nod, and the highest passer rating of his career at 109.2.
Brees' own late-career surge offers a blueprint for Stafford's ambitions. Despite battling injuries, Brees averaged 14 games per season over his last five years, maintaining impressive stats with an average of 3,891 yards and 29 touchdowns annually.
Notably, he achieved three of his top five single-season passer ratings during this period, with standout performances in 2019, 2018, and 2020. These years also marked the Saints' only four consecutive playoff appearances during Brees' 15-year tenure with New Orleans.
If Stafford can mirror Brees' late-career achievements, he'll have a legacy to be proud of.
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The Real Verdict On The Saints Offense In 2025
The Saints offense spent most of 2025 trying to find its footing, and the numbers across the full season confirm the uneven results. According to Sumer Sports, New Orleans finished 27th in offensive EPA at minus-0.09 and also sat 27th in success rate at 41.49%, a reminder that the group was below average even before the seasons late push became part of the conversation.
There was some improvement once Shough took over and helped drive wins down the stretch, but the bigger picture still reflects an attack that never climbed out of the leagues lower tier. Carolina, which finished one spot ahead of New Orleans in the NFC South race, also posted a better overall EPA mark, leaving the Saints with the sort of offensive evaluation that keeps the offseason questions pointed squarely at how much higher this unit can rise. [Read more 🡒]
What No 77 Has Come To Mean For Saints Fans
For Saints fans, No. 77 has long carried a little extra weight because the number has been worn by some of the most respected blockers in franchise history. The familiar names at the top of that lineage are Willie Roaf and Carl Nicks, two linemen whose success helped make the jersey feel like part of the teams identity, with Roafs Hall of Fame recognition and Nicks Pro Bowl rsum giving the number an aura that few others around the roster can match.
Now the number belongs to Dillon Radunz, and his place in that line adds a present-day wrinkle to a number already loaded with history. Radunz is entering a sixth NFL season while fighting for a roster spot, which gives No. 77 a different kind of significance this summer, especially with the season opener in Detroit drawing closer and every bit of roster turnover starting to matter a little more. [Read more 🡒]