Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

Freshly minted New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton launched into a recruiting pitch that altered the course of the franchise, and the city itself, forever.

The Saints wined and dined Drew Brees, a free-agent quarterback coming off a shoulder injury so debilitating Brees himself thought his career might be over. They drove through deserted, devastated parts of New Orleans that appeared untouched since Hurricane Katrina unleashed hell across the region six months earlier.

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.town...=crop%2Cresize

Miami disregarded Brees and his shoulder as damaged goods, so Payton and the Saints committed to No. 9 a few days later; and for 15 years they put together one of the greatest offenses in NFL history — turning a pitiful franchise into a Super Bowl champion and a perennial contender.

And now, after all those memorable moments, the Saints’ greatest player is hanging up his cleats.

More on NOLA

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Well it finally happened and I have to say I think it was the right call and the right time.

Thanks for everything Drew! You put your heart and soul into the Saints and it showed. Never seen a QB with more heart and more drive to succeed.
When the rest of the team was poor, it was still awe inspiring watching him sling the rock and tearing apart defenses.

Enjoy your retirement and once again, thanks for making Saints football exciting.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

I agree with all of this. Thank you Drew for all you’ve done for the team and the city. Now it’s time to move on but not forget.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Our greatest era is over. Back to mediocrity.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Was expecting this and can't agree more that its time, but it still hits hard. All the years he spent here. What he did for this fan base and the city. I will truly miss not seeing #9 suit up in black and gold. Im excited for the future but will be leaving in the past for awhile. Thank you Drew.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Thank you to Drew Brees for all you’ve done. I’m so glad that I travelled 3,000 miles to get to see him play in the Superdome! It’s a memory that I will cherish forever.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

I could not agree more. He was not just a qb but the face of NO. He brought this city back to life after Hurricane Katrina. I wish him the best but the Saints will never be the same. Now back to Aaron brooks and billy joe tolliver....

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

He Deserved a better send off than that crappy no-fan season. God Bless Drew. Best QB the Saints will ever have.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

I would be lying if I said I didn't want him to play another year!

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

I don't get the doom and gloom in here. The roster still has a ton of talent and we have Payton. Look at the games we won when Drew was hurt. I hate to see him retire, but we weren't going any further in the postseason with him, and he was bound to get hurt again. It was one helluva run, but it was over already. We are probably still the cream of the NFC south.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Nothing but respect for the man. Pretty much an iron man for the Saints.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Thanks for the Super Bowl Drew. You completely turned this organization around.

Next man up.

Let’s geaux Jameis.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

What an incredible ride. Looking forward to the day when fans can return to the Dome in great number and retire Drew's #9 in style.

I am not usually a person who cares, thinks or obsesses about meeting my sports heroes. But despite that, I'd love to meet Drew someday and play him in a match of tennis (even if he whips me).

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

What a great ride it was. I wish we didn’t waste so many of his prime years. I’m excited to see what the future holds.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

I absolutely wanted him to play another season for many reasons, the least of which wasn't the fact that I felt he still gives us our very best chance to win.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

His future will indeed be exciting. As for our Saints, I am dreading it. I'll still continue to predict going undefeated and winning it all every year, but deep down I'll be back to simply celebrating whatever wins we accomplish just like in the pre-Drew era.

But it could be worse, we could be Failclowns fans.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Seeing this in print is making me say "DUH!" in my head. Retiring 15 years to the day that he signed makes perfect sense.

Thanks Drew. Thanks for all those years of excellence. Thanks for the magical 2009 Super Bowl run bringing a well deserved championship to New Orleans.

You will be missed and never forgotten as a legend in New Orleans Saints football.

SFIAH

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

This.

You're completely right. His season was marred by cancel culture, political nonsense, ****ty teammates and Covid. What a terrible way to have it end. Not to mention that brutal injury.

Wish you went out on top hoisting the Lombardi in your final season. You deserved it. But you'll always be the GOAT in NOLA.

Ick. It still makes me sick how some of his teammates treated him. Goddamnit it pisses me off. Bunch of ****in entitled, self serving, racist losers.

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

He is a hall of fame individual in addition to a certain hall of fame NFL player

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

Thanks for being a Saint, Drew Brees.

After years of subpar product on the field, Good Karma caught up with the Saints in signing Brees. We wouldn't have a SB without him.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

What the hell are you talking about? What is your problem, dude. The ****ing hate you spew. You, sir, are the loser.

My God!

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

I've said it before, and I will say it again ...


There are a ton of players in the Hall of Fame right now that would've loved to end their final season going 12-4 and making it to the second round of the playoffs. The season certainly had its challenges, but a lot of bright side too.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Will always be left wondering what could have been if we had something resembling a defense back in his prime. For a long time he was the only reason we were making playoff appearances. Ima miss him and always appreciate what he’s done for this city.
I truly believe the Saints would be in San Antonio if it weren’t for him.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Having a meltdown? Thought the glass was always half full for you. All of your posts in this thread are negative when it should be about remembering and honoring the man. Stop making it about you.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

True, but the same could be said about the post he quoted.

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

Ahh, I see this thread is going through the stages of grief...many are stuck in anger.

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

THANK YOU DREW! You helped make the Saints a viable NFL organization.

After recently injuring my right shoulder, I have a new appreciation for pain and what you accomplished. Not only do you have a heart of gold, you have the pain threshold of a madman!!!

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Its always about him, even when he is quitting on the team as they lose a game.

When he is right he comes on here to gloat. He avoided this board for weeks after the season was over because he was scared to have it said "Told you so".

We all know what this dude is.

Drew was phenomenal player and his drive to be great was evident. Watching him was like watching a surgeon. He was absolutely the best player the Saints have ever had. He is going to be in the HOF first year he is eligible. It is deserved, he is one of the greatest QB's of all time.

I cannot look at him the same for his cowardice this offseason. It doesn't change his greatness as a player, but that's my honest view.

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'
 

It was a great ride.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

I was responding to a negative comment by someone making about him and his type.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Thank you, shawnkytonk. That's what I was trying to point out. Brees was the single greatest thing that ever happened to our franchise and I have no doubt whatsoever he is loved by each and every teammate he has ever had. Trying to stir up racist hatred isn't fitting.

Re: Drew Brees Officially Announces Retirement
 

Drew Brees kept my glass full. He gave me reason to always be positive about my Saints. I certainly hope something shows up in the not too distant future to once again give me some semblance of hope. But for now I am prepared to return to the days of celebrating those sporadic times of positive events. I was there for over forty years before he came as the savior so I suppose I can handle the next forty or more.

Re: Saints QB Drew Brees retires from NFL after 20 seasons: 'I am not retiring from New Orleans'