After months of speculation, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, 42, announced his retirement from the NFL.
Just like Brees’ career, he put his own unique mark on his retirement announcement.
His kids helped him break the news.
Drew Brees has officially retired from the NFL @brgridiron
His kids helped him with his announcement ❤️ pic.twitter.com/p2uVvrqOPV
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 14, 2021
A Legendary Career That Began In San Diego
To describe Brees as anything less than a legend is an understatement.
Many forget that he started his career with the San Diego Chargers.
Drafted by the Chargers in 2001, he played the backup role to Doug Flutie his rookie season.
When he got the starting job in 2002, he ran with it.
In San Diego, he threw for over 12,300 yards over 4 seasons.
Brees had 80 touchdown passes and 53 interceptions.
During the 2005 season, Brees suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder that required surgery.
His injury and the fact that the Chargers drafted Philip Rivers in 2004 were the principal reasons that Brees became a free agent.
After receiving serious consideration by the Miami Dolphins, Brees signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2006 and never looked back.
Brees’ former team reacted to his retirement news.
congrats on an incredible career + happy retirement, @drewbrees!
the league will miss you 💛 pic.twitter.com/cgBZZmL5C9
— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) March 14, 2021
It Continued In New Orleans.
Drew Brees career highlights:
⚜️ Super Bowl XLIV MVP
⚜️ All-time leader in completions (7,142)
⚜️ Highest career completion pct. (67.7%)A Hall of Fame resume 🐐 pic.twitter.com/t8xIf82Hs8
— PFF (@PFF) March 14, 2021
Pick a record or award, and Drew Brees has likely won it at least once.
Among the most prestigious is the Super Bowl championship over the Indianapolis Colts during the 2009 season.
Brees also was named Super Bowl MVP.
Indicative of his character, Brees also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2006.
Brees was named to the Pro Bowl 13 times.
He also was named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 2010.
Hurricane Katrina
Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl a few years after the area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
For many, Brees arriving the year after the hurricane was like an answered prayer; his can-do attitude brought so much hope to a fanbase that suffered mightily.
Brees’ Legacy
Besides the records and numbers, including over 80,000 yards and 571 touchdowns, is a regular guy that everyone can relate to.
He was not the tallest, fastest, or best athlete, but he had a great arm and a work ethic beyond compare.
His teammates enjoyed his leadership and his personality.
As one of the prominent faces of the NFL for nearly half of his life, he never took for granted the opportunity he was given and the gift he enjoyed of playing the game he loved.
What’s Next For The Saints?
For 15 years, Brees has been their man.
The Saints now enter an unknown phenomenon for them, figuring out who their starting quarterback will be.
Many speculated Brees was retiring from the moment the Saints lost to Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs in January so the Saints probably have been working contingency plans if this was happening in 2021.
Tom Brady congratulates Drew Brees on quarterback's retirement https://t.co/ycAtHop0tO #FoxNews
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) March 15, 2021
Saints Coach Sean Payton has hinted that the Saints already have their 2021 starting quarterback in the building so will it be Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston?
Whoever follows in Brees’ footsteps has gigantic shoes to fill and a consistent winning record to uphold for the New Orleans Saints in 2021 and beyond.
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