On Monday night, Adam Schefter revealed that Drew Brees, the 47-year-old NFL legend who retired in 2021, nearly came out of retirement to lead the Denver Broncos in last season’s AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. A return by Brees would have ranked among the most extraordinary comebacks in sports history — until a bad wrist ended any chance of it.
How the Plan Got Built
A broken ankle ended Bo Nix’s night in overtime of the divisional round, leaving the Broncos without their starting quarterback. The team had no choice but to hand the job to Jarrett Stidham, who had been waiting behind him. That decision set off a quiet chain of events.
Joe Lombardi and Pete Carmichael, both former Saints coaches now on the Broncos staff, got in touch with Brees. They asked for his assistance, wanting him to help. The approach came directly from the two assistants, without going through head coach Sean Payton, who was not told about it until months later.
There is word that Brees treated the offer with real seriousness. To gauge where his arm stood, he arranged a private throwing workout for himself.
What Killed the Comeback
The notion came to an end when the wrist began to ache. Once he recognized his body could no longer carry out what was being asked of it, Brees reportedly decided to call off the attempt at a return.
Returning would have been an enormous physical risk for Brees. Tossing a 47-year-old into a cold, snowy AFC championship game without any practice reps is a major gamble. On top of that, a single active snap would have reset his five-year retirement clock, delaying his Hall of Fame induction from August 2026 until 2031.
The Rest of the Story
On the “New Heights” podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, Brees recounted how the Miami Dolphins rejected him in 2006, with team doctors giving his shoulder only a slim chance of recovery. Years later, Nick Saban admitted the decision had come back to haunt him, saying it kept his Dolphins from reaching new heights while pushing Brees to New Orleans.
Stidham started instead. The Broncos lost 10-7 to New England. Denver was left wondering what if.
Key Facts Box
- Brees’ age: 47
- Retirement year: 2021
- Last NFL snap: Five full calendar years ago
- Hall of Fame induction: August 2026 (now pushed to 2031)
- Game: AFC Championship, Broncos vs. Patriots
- Score: Broncos 10, Patriots 7
What We Make of It
The tale serves as a reminder of how near things can come to being genuinely wild. Brees was prepared to take the field once more. He released the ball. He put himself to the test. Then his wrist spoke for itself and brought him up short.
The honest conclusion is also the amusing one. A quarterback who had not thrown an NFL snap in five years was nearly on the field for last season’s AFC Championship Game at age 47. Then his wrist said no.
It was a real and serious attempt at a comeback, but it went nowhere. The wrist made the decision for everyone involved.
The sequence of events matters in order:
- Bo Nix breaks his ankle in overtime during the divisional round.
- Broncos assistants Lombardi and Carmichael reach out to Brees.
- Brees holds a private throwing workout.
- Wrist discomfort ends the plan.
- Sean Payton is told months later.
- Stidham starts, Broncos lose 10-7 to New England.
This is a tale worth telling, though it serves as a warning about what a frame can endure after years of bearing a ball. Brees desired it, his arm recalled the old motion, yet his wrist would not consent.
Drew Brees was the story of the night, for one more moment, while the AFC Championship Game has concluded and the Hall of Fame induction remains fixed in its place.
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