Drew Brees Gives Cryptic Response, Hints At Past Talks with NFL Teams About Ending Retirement

Legendary quarterback Drew Brees is set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2026, but it sounds like there was a chance that his induction could've been delayed by a return to the NFL.

During an appearance on the New Heights podcast (1:12:00 mark), Brees was asked if he ever spoke with teams about ending his retirement. While the 47-year-old remained coy, he answered affirmatively.

"I will say I've had some conversations, and I've had some moments," Brees said.

Brees ended his playing career in 2020. Fellow quarterback Philip Rivers, who was a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame this year, came out of retirement to play for the Indianapolis Colts down the stretch of the 2025 season, and he won't be eligible for induction again until 2031.

While he likely could've followed Rivers' footsteps, Brees explained that his arm strength isn't what it used to be.

"I would say this: my body feels great," he said. "My mind, sharp as ever. Shoulder, wrist? Not having it."

Brees, who is now a football analyst for Fox, admitted that as recently as this year, he had a moment where he truly considered the possibility of returning to the NFL. He spent some time throwing with his 13-year-old son before it became apparent that it wasn't meant to be.

"It was just like, '(sighs) It's not there.' I wouldn't have been able to break a glass 10 feet away," he said with a laugh. "The good stuff was not in the system."

Still, Brees added that he would be in the NFL if he felt that he could play quarterback at the highest level. His ailing throwing arm is enough to keep him in the broadcast booth as he continues to enjoy retirement.

"But honestly, I really think I'd still be playing if the shoulder and the wrist wouldn't have started to let me down," he said. "I just started to lose quite a bit of pop. It's one of those things where, you know where to go with the ball, but can I get it from point A to point B in the amount of time that it needs to get there in order to be effective? Unfortunately, that left."