Drew Brees makes candid admission on NFL comeback decision

Jun 19, 2026 - 15:45

The career-length of a professional athlete is relatively short when compared to the average person.

That is unless your name is Tom Brady, LeBron James, or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to Taysom Hill #7 during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome — Brees enjoyed a 20-year career in the NFL

While Brady called time on a stellar, future Hall of Fame, NFL career that spanned 23 years, both James and Ronaldo are still active in their 40s in the NBA and football, respectively, with the Portuguese superstar currently at the 2026 World Cup representing his nation.

Drew Brees is another name whose sporting career surpassed the two-decade mark, with the former New Orleans Saints quarterback retiring from the NFL back in 2020 at the age of 41.

Rumors circulated at points last season that Brees could be tempted to come out of retirement and give playing football one last go.

After all, Phillip Rivers emerged out of retirement after three years away in a bid to help the Indianapolis Colts punch their ticket to the 2026 postseason, albeit they fell short in the end.

However, in a recent appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, a now 47-year-old Brees put any chances of making a return to bed, citing that his throwing shoulder is no longer what it once was.

“Well, look, I would know where to throw it, I just don’t know if I could get it there. That’s one lingering effect from the shoulder surgery,” he said.

“I don’t throw with my right arm anymore. I actually throw left-handed. I kind of started doing that towards the end of my career.

“Just with my kids, because I come home after a long day of practice and I didn’t have anything left in my right arm…

“But the boys want to play catch. I throw left-handed. I’m pretty mean inside of 30 with this left arm.”

Still working in and around football

Throughout his 20-year career split with the San Diego Chargers and the Saints, Brees threw right-handed, and is still widely considered as one of the greatest pure passers the NFL has ever seen.

Philip Rivers and Tom Brady also enjoyed lengthy careers in the NFL

HOF'er Brees revealed he can no longer throw with his right arm — HOF’er Brees revealed he can no longer throw with his right arm

The all-time great signal caller finished his playing career having made over 10,500 passing attempts, in which he completed 67.7 percent of them for 80,358 passing yards.

That figure is a mark which has only been eclipsed by Brady (89,214 yards), while Brees’ 571 touchdown passes are the second-most all-time, again behind Brady’s 649.

But with all that throwing, his shoulder required surgery and is more restricted in its usage, which saw the Super Bowl XLIV champion switch arms in order to be able to play football with his kids.

Nonetheless, having been one of the most dominant quarterbacks of his generation, he was deservedly enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, alongside wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, linebacker Luke Kuechly, kicker Adam Vinatieri and senior finalist, running back Roger Craig.

Parts of Brees’ signature game can still be seen in the NFL today, with his former coach Sean Payton now with the Denver Broncos and young quarterback Bo Nix, who has shown some similar traits on the field to that of the football legend.

While Brees has shut down any chance of rolling back the years and stepping back onto the gridiron, he hasn’t left the sport entirely.

Brees has gone on to forge a career in broadcasting following his retirement from the NFL in 2020

Instead, he has gone on to forge a career in broadcasting, having first joined NBC back in 2021, though he left at the end of the season.

He would then join ESPN’s First Take during the 2025 season as a weekly contributor, where he paired up with $40 million Stephen A. Smith.

But just two months later, he made the abrupt switch to rivals Fox in a full-time role following the dismissal of Mark Sanchez after his involvement in an incident in Indianapolis that saw him stabbed and arrested back in October.

He was also a part of Netflix’s Christmas Gameday broadcasting team, where he was in the booth at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for the Minnesota Vikings‘ 23-10 victory over the Detroit Lions.

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