NFL Icon Drew Brees Says He'd Be 'Top 3' Broadcaster, Could Be Sport's Best

Legendary former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees expressed his belief Friday that he has what it takes to be one of the best color analysts in the NFL.

During an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show (h/t Brendon Kleen of Awful Announcing), Brees expressed supreme confidence despite his lack of experience in the NFL broadcast booth:

“I chuckle because even as I look at the landscape right now—man I have so much respect for a lot of the guys in the booth right now—but I would step in the booth right now and be a top-three guy," Brees said.

Brees also said he "could be the best" if given a few years to develop before adding, "So look, I love the game. I love talking about the game. I feel like I have an insight to the game that is pretty unique given my playing experience. I see the game a totally different way, I process it a different way. So even as I watch games now and I just kind of listen to the commentary and this and that and what I'm seeing, I just feel like there’s so much more to add. So look, at the end of the day, I'm just going to wait for the right opportunity. And hopefully it comes along, but if it doesn't that's OK too. … I do feel like I have a ton of value to add in the booth."

The 46-year-old Brees retired following the 2020 NFL season, concluding a 20-year NFL career with the San Diego Chargers and Saints.

Overall, he was a 13-time Pro Bowler, one-time First Team All-Pro, two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year and one-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP, leading the Saints to a win in Super Bowl XLIV.

Brees also ranks second in NFL history in career completions (7,142), passing yards (80,358) and passing touchdowns (571) making him a surefire, first-ballot Hall of Famer next year.

For all of his on-field success, Brees has yet to reach that same level in the broadcasting world.

After retiring from playing, Brees joined NBC as an analyst, primarily working in the studio on Football Night in America and in the booth for Notre Dame college football games.

Brees' only opportunity to be in the booth for an NFL game was an AFC Wild Card Game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Las Vegas Raiders during the playoffs that followed the 2021 regular season.

His performance left much to be desired, and it ended up being the last NFL game he broadcasted for NBC, as he left the network in 2022.

Regarding his decision to depart, Brees said: "The unfortunate thing about that year was that the thing I wanted to do most was broadcast NFL games, and the thing I had the opportunity to do least was broadcast NFL games."

Brees will get another chance to prove himself in the booth this winter, though, when he helps call one of the Christmas Day games on Netflix.

Other high-profile quarterbacks such as Tony Romo and Tom Brady have transitioned successfully to broadcasting, and with a strong performance on Christmas, Brees may be able to enter that echelon as well.