Hall of Famer Drew Brees came remarkably close to returning to the NFL last season after the Denver Broncos lost quarterback Bo Nix to a fractured ankle in their divisional-round overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday.

With the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots approaching, then-Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive assistant Pete Carmichael contacted Brees about potentially playing for Denver. Both coaches had previously worked with Brees during their time with the New Orleans Saints, giving the situation an immediate connection to the quarterback.

Brees, who was 47 at the time, did not reportedly immediately reject the proposal. Instead, he wanted to determine whether his body could handle an NFL comeback. He worked out with the possibility of playing in the AFC title game, but discomfort in his wrist ultimately ended the idea.

The potential return would have been huge because Brees had retired in March 2021. He was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class that summer. His return would therefore have created questions surrounding the Hall of Fame's five-year eligibility rule for retired players.

Brees had previously acknowledged that he had discussed a possible NFL opportunity. During a February appearance on the “New Heights” podcast, he said there had been a situation in which he believed he might have an opportunity to play that week, although he admitted that he was not physically ready at the time.

Article Continues Below

The Broncos ultimately turned to Jarrett Stidham for the AFC Championship Game. Denver lost 10-7 to New England in a snowy contest, with Stidham completing 17 of 31 attempts for 133 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also lost a fumble, while the Broncos managed only 10 points in the defeat.

The possible reunion would also have brought Brees back together with Sean Payton, his former head coach in New Orleans. Brees and Payton reached the playoffs eight times with the Saints and won Super Bowl XLIV in 2010.

However, Payton was not involved when Lombardi and Carmichael first contacted Brees. The assistants wanted to determine whether Brees was willing and physically capable of returning before bringing the idea to the head coach. Payton only learned about those discussions during the offseason and was “both fascinated and flabbergasted,” per Schefter.

Had Brees successfully completed the workout without wrist problems, Denver would have signed him and evaluated him against Stidham as its starting option. Instead, the he remained retired, leaving the Broncos to face the Patriots without him.