Recall the speculations that Drew Brees will try to salvage the New Orleans Saints season by coming out of retirement during the 2021 NFL season?
It appears that the rumors were accurate, and Brees gave returning back a serious thought.
Although Brees was tempted to return midway through the 2020 season, he decided not to play in the NFL after that season.
Jameis Winston was the starting quarterback to begin the 2021 season, but he tore his ACL and MCL in just seven games. The Saints were attempting to bring out the best in everyone, including asking Brees if he would consider returning because they thought they had a highly talented team.
Brees claimed that he was tempted to play in New Orleans one more year.
When asked about his prior interest in making a comeback, Brees responded, via Nick Underhill, “Very.” “I’ll just end it there.”
For Brees, the main worry was how his surgically repaired throwing shoulder would hold up to NFL competition. Brees was prepared to go back to his high school playbook if necessary in order to try and assist the team win, even though he understood it would have been difficult.
“How capable… am I to do the job at the end of the day, is what matters, right?” Brees inquired with reporters, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. “I would have done whatever, including running QB draws. That’s what I would have done, veer choice. We would have done everything possible. I was prepared. Take out the playbook from high school.
Brees ultimately made the decision to stay away, but the mystery of what would have happened if his surgically repaired shoulder hadn’t been there will always remain.
Despite having a 9-8 record at the end of the 2021 season, the Saints were unable to qualify for the postseason. They ended up dropping five games in a row, which really did them in over Weeks 9–13. The primary backup quarterback, Trevor Sieman, completed passes for 1,154 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions.
There’s little doubt that Brees could have performed better if he had been healthy. Brees ultimately decided to remain retired and continued to work for NBC for a year before being let go. In 2009, Brees guided the Saints to the ultimate victory.
He solidified his status as one of the greatest players in franchise history with the Super Bowl victory.
