Saints: NFL fans and media react to Drew Brees retirement
By Scott Rogust
NFL fans and media react to the news of Drew Brees announcing his retirement from professional football.
After the New Orleans Saints were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Divisional Round, many expected that this would be the final time we saw quarterback Drew Brees don an NFL uniform. It seemed that Brees knew as well, as he took one final look at the Mercedes Benz Superdome before departing for the locker room.
Brees took his time to make a decision and opted to officially announce his retirement from the NFL on Sunday, the very same date where he signed with the Saints 15 years ago. With Brees hanging up his cleats for good after 20 years, NFL fans and media paid tribute to the soon-to-be Hall of Fame quarterback.
There it is. Drew Brees retiring – 15 years to the day he first joined the Saints. News we’ve been expecting, but may still take a while to sink in.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) March 14, 2021
“End of an era” doesn’t seem to do it justice. End of THE ERA. The greatest in Saints history, one of the best in NFL history. https://t.co/lLsjtC83g9
Officially the end of the Drew Brees era pic.twitter.com/clqvcNDeor
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) March 14, 2021
Brees is the best free agent signing ever, he's one of the best second-round picks ever (Favre, Stabler and Brees are best 2nd round QBs ever) and was, simply put, just the perfect QB for Sean Payton. Hell of a career.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) March 14, 2021
https://twitter.com/Nader723/status/1371208289514586118
15 years ago our franchise was changed forever.
— Ash ⚜️🔥 (0-0) (@whodatqueen1) March 14, 2021
Before Brees the Saints were always portrayed as a loser organization after Brees we became one of the elite franchises.
Thank you Drew I love you ❤️⚜️
We may joke about retirement posts but this man saved NOLA pic.twitter.com/toDg4mJRPZ
Drew Brees announces his retirement on Instagram.
— Michael Detillier (@MikeDetillier) March 14, 2021
15 years to the day he signed with the @Saints ..
Drew changed the course of this franchise like no other player to ever wear the Black and Gold.
We Thank You for all the great memories. https://t.co/ogqo3RNB6J
Thank you for everything Drew. You’ll always be our QB ⚜️@drewbrees pic.twitter.com/YbfMUnvH2D
— 𝐂𝐀𝐋⚜️ (@AC_SaintsStan) March 14, 2021
Now I understand why Drew Brees waited so long to announce this. The most adorable retirement in history takes time to rehearse.#Saints pic.twitter.com/CdtryEXZGQ
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) March 14, 2021
Gonna go ahead and call Drew Brees the best free agent signing in NFL history. Turned a losing franchise with almost no history of success into a consistent winner for 15 years
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) March 14, 2021
It’s hard to even imagine a Saints team without Drew Brees. I know it was a thing before. But I still can’t imagine it being a thing again.
— Ginger Gibson (@GingerGibson) March 14, 2021
Saints: Drew Brees retires 15-years after signing with Saints
2020 was supposed to be a better year for Brees after he lost a decent chunk of the 2019 campaign due to a right thumb injury. Unfortunately for Brees, he could not avoid the injury bug, as he suffered a punctured lung and multiple rib fractures in a Week 10 game against the San Francisco 49ers. While the Saints did defeat the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card Round, they could not make one final trip to the Super Bowl for Brees.
Putting 2020 aside, Brees is a no-doubt, first ballot Hall of Famer once he is eligible five years down the line. In his 20 years between the Saints and formerly the San Diego Chargers, Brees threw for 80,358 yards, 571 touchdowns and 243 interceptions while completing 67.7-percent of his total passes. He made the Pro Bowl 13 times, won the AP Offensive Player of the Year twice (2008, 2011), named Walter Payton Man of the Year (2006) and a one-time Super Bowl champion. Perhaps most importantly, Brees is the all-time passing yards leader.
Even though retirement was the most likely outcome, it will still feel weird not seeing Brees start under center for the Saints anymore. But his kids said it best, with football on the back burner, Brees gets to spend more time with his family. And that is the most important thing.
Next. Aaron Jones contract details revealed. dark