Hours before the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos faced off on “Monday Night Football,” NFL insider Adam Schefter made a surprising revelation. He reported that retired quarterback Drew Brees, now 47 years old, almost returned to play for Denver during the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots in the previous season.
The situation arose when Broncos quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle during overtime in the divisional round. With Nix injured, Denver was compelled to rely on backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Meanwhile, Broncos assistants Joe Lombardi and Pete Carmichael, both former coaches of the New Orleans Saints, discreetly contacted Brees to gauge his interest.
Brees, who retired from the NFL in 2021, reacted positively to the prospect, seriously considering the offer. He even conducted a private throwing workout to assess his arm’s strength and condition. However, wrist discomfort during the session hindered the idea, leading Brees to abandon plans for a comeback.
Had Brees returned, it would have marked one of the most remarkable one-game comebacks in sports history, given his five-year absence from NFL action. The attempt involved throwing a 47-year-old into a cold, snow-filled AFC title game without any practice reps, posing a significant physical risk.
Moreover, taking a single snap in the game would have reset Brees’ retirement clock. This change would push his Hall of Fame induction from August 2026 to 2031.
In a “New Heights” podcast episode, Brees recounted his experience with the Miami Dolphins in 2006. The team’s doctors had given his shoulder a mere 25% chance of recovery, leading Coach Nick Saban to later lament that failed physical, which ultimately directed Brees toward New Orleans.
Ultimately, Stidham took the starting position in the championship game. The Broncos fell to New England with a score of 10-7 and were left pondering the possibilities. Alejandro Avila, a seasoned writer at OutKick, continues to cover these stories from Southern California.
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