Drew Brees officially announces his retirement from the NFL on his Instagram account. The longtime New Orleans Saints quarterback leaves the organization which he helped revitalize after Hurricane Katrina. Brees has played in the NFL since 2001, winning one Super Bowl and 172 games in his 20-year career. Brees, 42, is one of the longest-tenured NFL players in the league. He leaves behind a legacy of greatness to an organization that was known for losing until the arrival of Brees and Sean Payton. Brees leaves behind many records that prove his greatness and will no doubt find himself in the Hall of Fame.
The official announcement on IG from Drew Brees: pic.twitter.com/NW2NJgZzx7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2021
New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees Officially Announces NFL Retirement
Drew Brees was first drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2001. He spent his first five years playing for the Chargers, starting 58 games. After the Chargers drafted Philip Rivers in the 2004 season, Brees left for free agency before the 2006 season. Brees was coming off a shoulder surgery which many doubted, the Saints and newly hired Sean Payton took a chance on Brees. The success since then cannot be overstated. Before Brees, the Saints had only won a single playoff game. The organization had only five playoff appearances as well. With Brees, the Saints have been to the playoffs nine times, culminating with a Super Bowl victory in the 2009 season.
Individual accolades are no stranger to Drew Brees as well. NFL Statistics page listed several of these after Brees’ final game. Brees retires with the most career passing yards, most career pass completions, most consecutive games with a touchdown pass, most 5,000 yard passing seasons, and highest single-season completion percentage. For the Saints organization, Brees finishes his career with a record of 142-86. He finished with an astounding 80,358 yards passing. Brees’ single-season completion percentage sits at 74.4%. As a matter of fact, Brees has finished with a 70% or more completion percentage on seven different occasions. Brees also eclipsed the 5,000-yard passing marker in five different seasons.
As stated in his Instagram post, “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!” The New Orleans Saints organization and fans will forever treasure these football years with Drew Brees. His number nine will likely be retired by the Saints in the coming years. What Brees has meant to the Saints organization and fans will last forever.
