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Broncos Considered Luring Drew Brees Out of Retirement for AFC Championship
Confirmed
In Short: The Denver Broncos reportedly considered bringing back 47-year-old Drew Brees for the AFC Championship, but the quarterback's body could not handle the comeback attempt.
Former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive assistant Pete Carmichael discussed with Brees the possibility of his coming out of retirement to suit up for Denver as the team made a bid for Super Bowl LX in the AFC title game, according to ESPN.
Brees told the two assistants that he wanted to work out before making a firm decision to see how his body would respond, a move that led to him experiencing wrist discomfort and ultimately calling off the comeback.
Interestingly, Sean Payton, Brees' longtime coach with the Saints, was unaware of the pursuit launched by Lombardi and Carmichael, thinking they were referring to an earlier attempt to bring Brees back in 2021.
The idea of Brees returning to the NFL was further complicated by the fact that the Indianapolis Colts had just signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who replaced Brees in San Diego.
Despite the initial interest, Brees left some breadcrumbs about the latest flirtation with a return to the NFL, telling a podcast that he had some conversations but kept things vague.
In the end, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham started in place of Bo Nix, who broke his ankle during the divisional round, and the Broncos lost 10-7 to New England, leaving them to wonder what might have been if Brees had taken the field.
What's confirmed
- Former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive assistant Pete Carmichael discussed with Brees the possibility of his coming out of retirement to suit up for Denver as the team made a bid for Super Bowl LX in the AFC title game, according to ESPN.
- Brees told the two assistants that he wanted to work out before making a firm decision to see how his body would respond, a move that led to him experiencing wrist discomfort and ultimately calling off the comeback.
- Interestingly, Sean Payton, Brees' longtime coach with the Saints, was unaware of the pursuit launched by Lombardi and Carmichael, thinking they were referring to an earlier attempt to bring Brees back in 2021.
- The idea of Brees returning to the NFL was further complicated by the fact that the Indianapolis Colts had just signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who replaced Brees in San Diego.
- Despite the initial interest, Brees left some breadcrumbs about the latest flirtation with a return to the NFL, telling a podcast that he had some conversations but kept things vague.
- In the end, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham started in place of Bo Nix, who broke his ankle during the divisional round, and the Broncos lost 10-7 to New England, leaving them to wonder what might have been if Brees had taken the field.
What's still developing
- When first informed, Payton thought they were referring to when New Orleans tried to bring Brees back in 2021 for a Monday night game against the Dolphins in December.
- In the aftermath of Bo Nix suffering a season-ending ankle injury during the final moments of the divisional round, the Denver Broncos apparently left no stone unturned in an attempt to find a suitable replacement for him for the AFC Championship.
- Brees had turned 47 just two days before Nix went down with the injury, but he did speak with Lombardi and Carmichael, whom he worked with in New Orleans, and it appears as if he seriously considered the comeback.
- After that workout, however, Brees reportedly experienced wrist discomfort, and the idea of one of the most decorated quarterbacks in NFL history making a jaw-dropping return dissolved.
- The two assistants wanted to take the temperature on Brees' appetite to return before broaching it with Payton, who later learned about the plot to possibly bring him back during the offseason.
- That led to Ian Book starting, but not before they approached Brees.
- Hours before the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos kicked off on "Monday Night Football", NFL insider Adam Schefter dropped a stunner... that 47-year-old Drew Brees nearly came off the couch to start for Denver in last season's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.
- Realizing his body could no longer execute, Brees allegedly called off the comeback.