Hall-of-Fame QB Drew Brees Mulled Over Playing For Broncos in AFC Championship
We witnessed it with Philip Rivers. Some even would love to see Tom Brady do it. But another QB from the Quarterback Era thought about picking up a ball and throwing on some cleats. Hall-of-Fame QB Drew Brees briefly mulled over playing for the Denver Broncos in last season’s AFC Championship game.
Drew Brees attempted to come out of retirement and play for the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game after Bo Nix’s ankle injury. But Brees didn’t want to come back for just the sake of doing it. If he returned he wanted to actually make an impact for Denver.
So then, Drew decided to do a private check up. In order to determine if he was up to the task as well as the challenge that lay before him. However, during his workout, Brees experienced discomfort in his wrist and ultimately ‘nixed the idea.’
Ex-ESPN reporter Ed Werner shared the full story on social media. Regarding Brees contemplating coming out of retirement, Werner revealed,
“HOF QB Drew Brees tells me he was contacted by former Saints coaches on Sean Payton’s staff about playing in the AFC Championship Game for injured Bo Nix the morning after Dan Fouts did the door knock informing him he was voted into the HOF.
Brees jokingly checked with HOF CEO Jim Porter to confirm coming out of retirement wouldn’t create delay in his HOF status.
Once assured nothing would change regarding his 2026 HOF induction, Brees took son Callen to a nearby field to throw. Mentally, he was in for the Denver offer if he could perform physically and planned to convey that directly to Payton. Instead, Brees said his right wrist and shoulder were so damaged he couldn’t throw 15 yards with necessary velocity. That was the end of it.
Drew Brees on why he decided not to pursue playing for Broncos in AFC Championship Game. His throwing session with son Callen convinced him not to unretire:
“I started trying to rip the ball to him. And man, this shoulder and this right wrist are so wasted. I got no pop. So for people to say like, “Oh, I felt discomfort? Discomfort my butt, dude. I can’t throw 15 yards with any kind of pop…
There’s like 20 guys in that Broncos organization that I know and love; would love nothing more than help them, you know, win a game to get to the Super Bowl and then go win that thing, man. I’d love to go up against that Mike MacDonald defense. So much respect for him. And so anyway, man, I was mentally ready. The rest of my body? Ready. But right arm and right wrist? They lost it a long time ago.”
Hall-of-Fame QB Drew Brees Mulled Over Playing For Broncos in AFC Championship
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Broncos reached out to Drew Brees. The organization potentially wanted him to play for them in the AFC Championship Game after Bo Nix got hurt. Nix fractured his right ankle during a designed run in overtime of the AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Buffalo Bills on January 17, 2026.
Joe Lombardi and Pete Carmichael were the two who talked to Brees. Sean Payton didn’t know until the offseason. Brees worked out, but felt discomfort in his wrist so didn’t go through with it. A wild, wild sports tale!
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