Drew Brees Announces Retirement from the NFL

Mon, Mar 15, 2021
By Jim Vassallo (Veri.bet Writer)

In one of the more adorable retirement announcements in sports history, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees shared a video of his children announcing his retirement from the NFL via Instagram.

Drew’s four children, Baylen, Bowen, Callen, and Rylen, exclaimed: "After 15 years with the Saints and 20 years in the NFL, our dad is finally gonna retire. So he can spend more time with us! Yeah!!"

Brees said the following in his video announcement:

"After 20 years as a player in the NFL and 15 years as a Saint, it is time I retire from the game of football. Each day, I poured my heart & soul into being your Quarterback. Til the very end, I exhausted myself to give everything I had to the Saints organization, my team, and the great city of New Orleans. We shared some amazing moments together, many of which are emblazoned in our hearts and minds and will forever be a part of us.”

"You have molded me, strengthened me, inspired me, and given me a lifetime of memories. My goal for the last 15 years was striving to give to you everything you had given to me and more. I am only retiring from playing football, I am not retiring from New Orleans. This is not goodbye, rather a new beginning. Now my real life's work begins!"

Brees spent the first five years of his career with the San Diego Chargers. He retires from the NFL as the league leader in passing yards with 80,358. He is second in league history in touchdown passes with 571 and completion percentage at 67.7.

"When I was hired by the Saints as head coach in 2006, the very first goal was to establish a functional and winning culture," Saints Head Coach Sean Payton said in a statement. "In doing so, it was vital to know what we were looking for in a player, talent, work ethic, makeup, intelligence and leadership are all qualities we found in Drew Brees. ... I am forever grateful for what he has done for our team, our community, and for me personally."

Brees helped the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts. Brees and the Saints were unable to return to another Super Bowl during his tenure despite winning the last four NFC South Division titles.

Brees’ final game was a 30-20 loss in the divisional round of the 2020 playoffs to eventual Super Bowl LV champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was the only playoff game in his career that Brees threw three interceptions.

Brees has been cemented as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game and is a first-ballot hall of famer. His retirement leaves the quarterback position up in the air.

"Drew is so much more valuable than all the records, awards, and accolades that he amassed through a 15-year career with the New Orleans Saints and 20-year NFL playing career, one of the greatest in our league's history," Saints owner Gayle Benson said in a statement. "When Drew first joined the Saints in 2006, my late husband Tom was determined to deliver a team to New Orleans that would win a championship on the field and become a leader in the community following the setbacks that Hurricane Katrina dealt our region. Over and above his outstanding performance, Drew came to represent the resolve, passion, and drive that resonates not only with Saints fans and football fans but our entire community."

Brees ends his illustrious career with a record of 172-114 and a 9-9 mark in the playoffs. With the Saints, Brees was 142-86 and 9-8 in the playoffs. He is the only quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards or more in a season five times in a career.