It's safe to say that Drew Bress left fans wanting during Sunday's high-scoring Chicago Bears-Carolina Panthers clash.
Chicago, led by new 'Iceman' Caleb Williams, got their 2026 off to a strong start after defeating the Panthers by a score of 59-37.
The Panthers and Bears scored 96 points between them, shattering the record for the highest-scoring season-opener in NFL history.
A high-scoring shootout demanded top-tier commentary, but evidently Brees missed the mark.
Brees under fire for emotionless broadcast
Calling the action alongside Adam Amin and sideline reporter Kristina Pink on FOX, Brees faced backlash as fans grew tired of his flat tone, low energy, and awkward on-air pauses throughout the broadcast.
"If paint drying was a person, it would be Drew Brees as a broadcasting analyst," one fan commented.
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"Brees is an awful color commentator, just so boring and emotionless," a second added.
"Why does Drew Brees sound so awkward in the booth, literally makes me want to turn off," a third said.
"Drew Brees makes me want to put my headphones in to watch the game, like, why are we so dull?" a fourth commented.
"Did FOX listen to a single game that Brees has called before, he stunk, and nothing has changed," a fifth concluded.
Some media veterans did, however, notice the craft and depth in what the former New Orleans Saints quarterback was saying.
"Watching the Bears-Carolina game in KC. Drew Brees a lil low on energy but top-notch in didnâÂÂt-realize-that analysis,â 9News reporter Mike Klis posted on X.
Brees' broadcasting journey so far
Brees retired from the NFL in 2021 and immediately served as a color analyst on NBC Sports' Football Night in America alongside Mike Tirico.
He also served on NBC's coverage of college football's Notre Dame, but would only last a season, citing that he wanted to spend more time with family.
He would step away entirely for a few years, before returning in 2025 becoming a weekly contributor on ESPN's First Take.
He would then be named as the replacement to Mark Sanchez as an NFL game analyst for FOX, following Sanchez's arrest for a felony battery charge.
2026 will be Brees' first full season in the NFL on Fox booth, and he is also serving as co-host for SiriusXM's Let's Go! show alongside Los Angeles Rams and reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford, as well as Jim Gray and Peter King.
In 20 seasons spent between the San Diego Chargers and Saints, Brees recorded 80,358 passing yards and 571 passing touchdowns.
Both figures have only been surpassed by arguably the greatest to ever do it, Tom Brady (89,214 yards and 649 touchdowns.)
Brees was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026, but still has some work to do when it comes to his performance in the booth.
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