Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has indicated his interest in returning to broadcasting after a brief stint with NBC. Brees believes he can excel in the role and is particularly interested in covering NFL games.
Drew Brees' impressive NFL career came to an end after the 2020 season. He retired as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in league history, holding numerous records and earning numerous accolades. However, Brees' retirement from the field did not mark the end of his involvement in football. In 2021, he joined NBC as a color analyst for a pair of NFL games and also worked on Notre Dame football games. He also made appearances in the studio and on location at stadiums for "Football Night in America."
Despite his initial enthusiasm for broadcasting, Brees left NBC in May 2022, citing his desire to spend more time with his family. Now, nearly a year later, the former quarterback appears eager to return to the booth. On Thursday, Brees was back at the New Orleans Saints training site as the franchise announced plans to enshrine him in the team's Hall of Fame. During a press conference following the announcement, Brees expressed his desire to take another shot at broadcasting.
"I would love to broadcast NFL games at some point again," Brees said. "I think I could be the best at it."
Brees went on to suggest that he would be interested in working on NFL-centric broadcasts, such as "Thursday Night Football," rather than college football games.
"Yep, I said it. SNF, MNF or Thursday Night Football. Come get me when you’re ready! Until then I’m coaching ball," Brees wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Brees acknowledged that he faced some drawbacks in his first year of retirement, particularly the travel schedule associated with broadcasting. However, he indicated that those concerns were no longer an issue.
"I think at the time, it was just a lot all at once," Brees said. "Now, I think my kids are at the ages where I can manage it a lot better, where I can handle a lot more. I think I can bring a lot more value now."
Brees' confidence in his abilities is supported by longtime MLB and NFL play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, who told The Athletic's Sports Media Podcast that he believes Brees has the potential to be a top analyst.
"If there’s anybody who was ever created in a computer to be a top analyst at a network, I think it’s Drew Brees. and I would love to see him get another chance at that," Buck said. "He got one game, and he was working with a new crew and a new play-by-play guy, and everybody expects brilliance. You make one comment, and it gets its own life on social media. It’s just ridiculous."
Brees' desire to return to broadcasting coincides with the recent announcement that NBC will replace Al Michaels with Mike Tirico as the lead play-by-play announcer for "Sunday Night Football." Brees previously worked with Tirico at NBC, and their chemistry could be a potential selling point for NFL teams looking for a new broadcast team.
Whether Brees is able to land a coveted NFL broadcasting job remains to be seen. However, his confidence, experience, and support from respected names in the industry suggest that he has a good chance of success if given another opportunity.
