Drew Brees, one of the NFL’s most iconic quarterbacks and a beloved figure in New Orleans Saints history, has revealed the extent of his long-term physical struggles following retirement, admitting he can no longer use his right arm.
The 46-year-old, who led the team to Super Bowl XLIV glory in the 2008/09 season, shared the devastating development, linked to the shoulder injury that nearly ended his career two decades ago when he played for the San Diego [now Los Angeles] Chargers.
During an appearance on ESPN Radio’s Greeny, Brees explained that while he occasionally receives interest about returning to the field, his body no longer allows him to entertain the idea and thus has curtailed his dream of a comeback.
“Look, I’ll let you in on a little fact,” Brees said. “I don’t throw with my right arm anymore. My right arm does not work.
“So, when I throw in the backyard right now, I throw left-handed. If I could, I would absolutely still be playing.”
An icon of his time
He played in the NFL from 2001 to 2020 and became a legend in New Orleans after signing in 2006, the same year that Dr. James Andrews performed what was then a highly complex and unprecedented shoulder repair procedure, using 12 anchors to fix a full 360-degree labrum tear.
Brees also had partial damage to the rotator cuff but the procedure worked and he rebounded in extraordinary fashion but now admits the damage was far more lasting than many realized.
He said the injury put him “on the fast track to a degenerative shoulder and all kind of arthritic changes” and even the Miami Dolphins famously backed out of signing Brees due to concerns about his shoulder – a team that has defiantly stood by Tua Tagovailoa through his injuries.
“The Dolphins’ medicals were right according to the long-term prognosis,” Brees admitted, though he credits Dr. Andrews with giving him the tools to manage the injury long enough to have a historic career.
Fans react to Brees’ heartbreaking news
He went on to throw 68,010 yards and 491 touchdowns over 15 seasons with the Saints, guiding the team to a Super Bowl XLIV championship and earning MVP honors in that game and becoming enshrined in New Orleans history.
Over his full NFL career, Brees passed for 80,358 yards and 571 touchdowns, both second all-time and completed 7142 passes. They’re achievements only Tom Brady, a seven-time champion, has managed to eclipse.
Still, the physical toll of such a long and productive career is now impossible to ignore. While promoting a celebrity pickleball event with tennis great John McEnroe, Brees noted that he is still able to enjoy sports like pickleball because the game is played below shoulder level.
Following the resurfacing of Brees’ comments by the ML Football account on X (formerly Twitter), fans across the football world expressed sorrow and support.
One user commented, “Damn, this hurts my soul. Love you, Drew.”
A second said, “This is heartbreaking. Drew was truly a legend at the game.”
And a third noted, “Such a sad story. The true downside to a post-NFL career.”
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