Hours before the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Denver Broncos on “Monday Night Football”, NFL insider Adam Schefter revealed unexpected news. The 47-year-old Drew Brees almost returned to play for Denver in last season’s AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.
This consideration arose after Broncos quarterback Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle in overtime during the divisional round. Forced into action, backup Jarrett Stidham took over, prompting Broncos assistants Joe Lombardi and Pete Carmichael, who both previously coached Brees with the Saints, to discreetly contact the retired quarterback.
New Orleans Saints retired QB Drew Brees attends his hall of fame ceremony during halftime against the Denver Broncos at Caesars Superdome on October 17, 2024. (Matthew Hinton/Imagn Images)
Head coach Sean Payton remained unaware of these discussions until much later. Brees gave the proposition serious thought and privately tested his throwing ability to assess his readiness.
Unfortunately, during the workout, Brees experienced wrist discomfort, leading him to abandon the idea. Acknowledging that his physical condition was not sufficient, he officially decided against making a comeback.
If Brees had returned, it would have been one of the most unexpected one-game comebacks in sports history. Since his retirement in 2021, he had not played in the NFL for five years.
Playing in a freezing, snowy AFC title game at 47, without practice, posed a huge physical risk. Additionally, taking a snap would have restarted his five-year retirement countdown, delaying his Hall of Fame eligibility from August 2026 to 2031.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton and QB Bo Nix at Empower Field at Mile High, Colorado. (Isaiah J. Downing/Imagn Images) New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, on December 22, 2019. (Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports)
On the “New Heights” podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, Brees reminisced about the Miami Dolphins’ rejection in 2006. Team doctors assessed only a 25% recovery chance for his shoulder. This pushed him to New Orleans, while Nick Saban regretted the decision, believing Brees could have significantly elevated the Dolphins’ performance.
Ultimately, Jarrett Stidham started the game, where the Broncos were narrowly defeated 10-7 by New England. Denver fans were left pondering the outcome had Brees played.
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