Photo Credit: ESPN
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Philip Rivers shocked the NFL when he returned to the Indianapolis Colts last season. However, Drew Brees nearly created an even bigger quarterback comeback. The former New Orleans Saints star considered playing for the Denver Broncos. The opportunity came during the AFC Championship Game hunt last season. Denver needed a quarterback after Bo Nix suffered a fractured ankle. Nix suffered the injury during Denver’s divisional-round victory over Buffalo. The Broncos then faced a difficult decision before the AFC Championship Game. Their solution almost involved a 47-year-old Hall of Fame quarterback. According to ESPN, Denver assistants Joe Lombardi and Pete Carmichael contacted Brees. Both coaches previously worked with Brees during his legendary Saints career. Brees turned 47 just two days before Nix suffered his injury.
Still, age did not immediately eliminate the possibility. Brees Actually Considered It Brees reportedly took the Broncos’ proposal seriously. He told Lombardi and Carmichael that he wanted to work out first. Brees wanted to see how his body responded before making a decision. That workout ultimately ended the possibility. Brees experienced discomfort in his throwing wrist. That issue convinced him that returning for one playoff game made little sense. The decision prevented one of football’s most unusual comeback stories. It also left Denver with Jarrett Stidham as its starting quarterback. Stidham started against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. The Broncos lost the snowy contest 10-7. Stidham completed 17 of 31 passes for 133 yards. He threw one touchdown and one interception. Denver also lost a fumble during the game. A Brees comeback therefore remains one of football’s biggest what-ifs.
Sean Payton Did Not Know
The strangest part of the story involves Sean Payton. Payton spent 15 seasons coaching Brees in New Orleans. Together, they transformed the Saints into a perennial contender. They also delivered New Orleans its first Super Bowl championship. Yet Payton apparently did not know about the latest Brees discussions. Lombardi and Carmichael reportedly approached Brees before involving their head coach. They wanted to determine whether Brees could actually play first. Payton eventually learned about the discussions during the offseason. According to ESPN, Payton felt both fascinated and shocked by the revelation. That reaction makes sense given their history. Payton knows Brees better than almost any coach in football. He also knows what Brees accomplished during their time together. Still, even Payton could not have expected his former quarterback to consider returning at 47.
Rivers Started the Comeback Trend
The Brees story gained even more attention because of Philip Rivers. Rivers returned to the NFL last season with the Indianapolis Colts. He came out of retirement at 44 years old. The Colts needed help after quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Rivers answered the call. His return created one of the NFL’s strangest quarterback stories in years. It also created a possible blueprint for another veteran comeback. Brees and Rivers share an interesting NFL connection. Rivers eventually replaced Brees as the Chargers’ starting quarterback. Brees then left San Diego and joined the Saints in free agency. The rest became NFL history. Brees won a Super Bowl with New Orleans and eventually entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Rivers, meanwhile, built a tremendous career with the Chargers. Their careers took very different paths after San Diego.
Yet both quarterbacks nearly returned to the NFL after retirement. Brees Had More Than One Reason to Say No Brees’ wrist discomfort ultimately ended the Broncos possibility. However, his physical condition represented another major concern. Brees has previously discussed his throwing limitations following his shoulder injury. He also retired from the NFL in 2021. That meant he had not played professional football for several years. Walking into an AFC Championship Game would have presented an enormous challenge. Denver would have expected him to learn the offense quickly. He also would have faced a strong Patriots defense. Meanwhile, Brees would have needed to withstand the physical demands of playoff football. That combination made the comeback extremely difficult. Still, Brees believed he could potentially help. One Broncos source reportedly believed Brees would have ranked among the team’s best options. That confidence shows just how much respect remains for his football intelligence.
There Was Also a League-Rules Problem
There is another important wrinkle to the story. Brees remained on the Saints’ reserve-retired list. According to Pro Football Talk, that status created significant complications. NFL rules limit when a player can return from the reserve-retired list. The Saints also would have needed to release Brees. He then could have faced the waiver process. That means the Broncos faced more than a simple quarterback decision. The league’s rules could have prevented the comeback entirely. There also could have been questions about whether Denver’s discussions violated tampering rules. The Broncos assistants reportedly contacted Brees without Payton’s knowledge. That detail could create questions for the NFL. Nevertheless, the situation never reached that point. Brees’ wrist discomfort ended the possibility before Denver could pursue the move further.
One More What-If for Brees
Brees officially retired in March 2021. He later earned his place in Canton. Payton presented Brees for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer. That ceremony gave the two longtime partners another memorable moment. Yet the Broncos story adds another fascinating chapter. Brees could have returned to football at 47. He could have reunited with Payton. He could have played in another conference championship. Instead, he watched from the outside. Rivers actually returned to the field. Brees came surprisingly close. In the end, though, his body made the decision for him.
The Broncos moved forward with Stidham. New England advanced to Super Bowl LX. Brees remained retired and continued his Hall of Fame journey. Still, football fans can now wonder about one final question. What if Drew Brees had taken one more snap?
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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