Brees ultimately abandoned the comeback after a private throwing workout revealed lingering wrist discomfort, leaving head coach Sean Payton initially unaware of the pursuit.
When Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury during the final moments of the divisional round win against the Buffalo Bills, the Denver Broncos scrambled for a replacement ahead of the AFC title game. That search reached all the way to 47-year-old Drew Brees, who had been retired from the NFL for several years.
Behind-the-Scenes Outreach to Drew Brees
Former Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive assistant Pete Carmichael initiated the contact with Brees to gauge whether he could come out of retirement and suit up for Denver. Both assistants had previously worked closely with Brees during their time with the New Orleans Saints. Brees took the proposal seriously enough to hold a private throwing session to test his arm’s capability.
However, wrist discomfort during the private workout quickly dashed the plan. Recognizing that his body could no longer handle the physical demands of playing quarterback at a professional level, Brees called off the comeback attempt. Had he returned to take a single active NFL snap, it would have reset his five-year retirement clock and pushed his Pro Hall of Fame induction past August 2026.
Sean Payton Kept in the Dark Until the Offseason
Head coach Sean Payton learned nothing about the recruitment until months later, discovering the plot during Hall of Fame weekend in July. When the story first surfaced, Payton initially assumed the discussions involved the 2020 NFL season, when Brees missed four games due to injury.
Payton added that even during the COVID-19 season, when he and Brees discussed a potential return for a Monday night game, the quarterback experienced trouble throwing the football effectively.
Tampering Concerns and Conflicting Accounts
The revelation of the unretirement exploration raised potential NFL tampering questions. Because Brees officially retired while under contract with the New Orleans Saints, he remained on their reserve-retired list as their contractual property by rule rather than an unrestricted free agent.
Accounts regarding who initiated the contact differ between the quarterback and the coaching staff.
- Brees indicated to reporters that the Broncos reached out to him first.
- Payton maintained that Brees had reached out by texting Carmichael or Lombardi after the playoff win against Buffalo.
Legal and league analysts note that even if a player initiates contact while holding reserve-retired status with another franchise, the receiving team is required by league protocol to inform the club holding their rights rather than engaging in negotiations. While the NFL selectively enforces its tampering policies, past precedent—such as penalties levied against the Miami Dolphins—proves the league office can launch investigations independently without a formal complaint from a team.
The AFC Championship Outcome in Denver
Without a miracle return from Brees, the Broncos turned to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to lead the offense against the New England Patriots. Denver ultimately suffered a 10-7 defeat, closing the door on a Super Bowl run and leaving the franchise to ponder an extraordinary offseason storyline.
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