Future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees dropped a bombshell with a viral tweet about opening the door to playing football again, and it did not take long for the Seattle Seahawks to be linked to the New Orleans Saints legend.
NBC Sports’ Peter King suggested the Seahawks as a possible landing spot if Brees pulls a surprise and returns to the field.
“As for other teams, the Seahawks might fit despite their talking-up of Drew Lock, and the Panthers could be just desperate enough to make a run at Brees. But we’re getting way ahead of ourselves,” King wrote on May 16. “Would any team want a 43-year-old Brees, who’d have to rehab after left shoulder surgery? And was Brees just throwing out a misdirection play with his tweets?”
He spent 2021 as an analyst on NBC after announcing his retirement last March. By suggesting he “may play football again,” Brees created a frenzy with a tweet that has easily surpassed 10,000 retweets and quote tweets.
“Despite speculation from media about my future this fall, I’m currently undecided,” Brees tweeted on May 16. “I may work for NBC, I may play football again, I may focus on business and philanthropy, I may train for the pickleball tour, senior golf tour, coach my kids or all of the above. I’ll let you know.”
Brees would return as a free agent, opening the door ever so slightly for the Seahawks to “shoot their shot” even if the odds are long that the team would bring Brees out of retirement to the Pacific Northwest.
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Could the Seahawks Lure Brees Out of Retirement?
Brees’ tweet on May 15 came in response to The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand reporting that Brees was out as an NBC analyst after just one year. According to Marchand, the decision to exit NBC “seemed mutual.”
If Brees returned, would the Seahawks have a chance to sign Brees? It is hard to imagine Brees returning to play for any team not named the Saints after 15 seasons in New Orleans. That said, the Saints appear committed to moving forward with Jameis Winston as their starting quarterback.
The Seahawks, who will be without Russell Wilson after 10 seasons with him as their starting quarterback, insist they are not rebuilding. Seattle appears set on giving new quarterback Drew Lock, 25, a chance to audition for QB1, with head coach Pete Carroll saying, “If he plays like he did early on [in his career], I think we’ve got a shot.”
Brees Underwent Shoulder Surgery in May: Report
The last time Brees took the field, in 2020, he threw for 2,942 yards (the lowest of his career since 2003), 24 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 70.5% of his passes in 12 appearances. According to King, Brees just underwent shoulder surgery and those around the former quarterback expect him to remain retired.
“One friend of Brees told me Sunday he hasn’t mentioned playing to him this offseason, and his left shoulder surgery May 2, at age 43, after not playing football for 16 months, would seems to make a return to football problematic at best,” King noted. “Another person who knows Brees told me Sunday night, ‘He’s not playing football.’”
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Seahawks Could Lure 13-Time Pro Bowl QB Out of Retirement, Says Insider