Drew Brees Considered Return for Broncos in 2025 AFC Championship

Drew Brees, the former NFL quarterback, made headlines last season when he came out of retirement at age 44 to play three games for the Colts at the end of the 2025 season. According to an ESPN report by Adam Schefter, Brees was in discussions with the Denver Broncos to step in as quarterback for the AFC Championship after Bo Nix fractured his ankle during a Divisional Round win against the Patriots in January. Brees, who turned 47 just two days before Nix's injury, had conversations with Denver's then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive assistant Pete Carmichael, both former coaches of his at the Saints, about potentially playing against the Patriots the following Sunday. However, Brees' wrist did not hold up, preventing the comeback. Instead, the Broncos turned to Jarrett Stidham, who completed 133 yards and one touchdown in a 10-7 loss to New England. Brees reflected on the situation during a February appearance on the "New Heights" podcast, stating, "I wouldn’t have been able to break that glass 10 feet away," and mentioned that he had considered preparing to play. He noted that after throwing with his son, his wrist and shoulder were not functioning well enough for him to return to the field. Brees, who is now an NFL analyst for Fox, expressed that he might still be playing if not for these physical issues. Broncos coach Sean Payton, who had a long coaching relationship with Brees, was unaware of the discussions until the offseason and expressed surprise upon learning about them. If Brees had played in January, it would have reset his Hall of Fame eligibility clock, as players cannot be inducted until five years after their careers end.