NEW ORLEANS – Drew Brees was still on the Superdome field almost two hours after what was probably his last game in the historic building of the New Orleans Saints.
Brees, who is due to retire after 20 seasons, has not officially announced his intentions after a disappointing 30-20 loss to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional round of the playoffs on Sunday. But he made a point of absorbing everything.
Brees and his wife, Brittany, spent time playing with their four children – some football and some gymnastics. He also spent time chatting with longtime friend and rival Tom Brady. After the two great quarterbacks of all time shared a hug, Brady even gave a pass to one of Brees’s sons before moving on to the NFC Championship Game.
Brees, who turned 42 on Friday, hoped to reach his fourth game for the NFC title and his second Super Bowl this year. Instead, he launched three interceptions in a playoff game for the first time in his career, while Tampa Bay recovered from a 20-13 deficit in the third quarter.
“I’m going to give myself the opportunity to think about the season, think about a lot of things, just like I did last year, and make a decision,” said Brees when asked directly if he had just played his last game.
He said his performance on Sunday or how the season ended would have no bearing on his decision. But when asked what would weigh in the decision, Brees said, “I’m going to keep this to myself now.”
Brees added, however, that he has no regrets about returning this year, after almost retiring after last season.
“I would never regret it. Never,” said Brees, who lost four games in November and December because of a punctured lung and 11 broken ribs, but still helped Santos win second place in the NFC with a 12-4 record before its disappointing ending.
“No complaints. No regrets. Man, I always tried to play this game with a lot of respect and a lot of reverence for it. And I appreciate everything that this game has given me,” said Brees, who led the Saints. his only Super Bowl victory in the franchise’s history in 2009 and holds the NFL record for passing yards in his career. “Obviously, there are so many incredible memories, so many incredible relationships that have emerged as a result of playing this game. And, man, you find out a lot about yourself and you have to fight so hard when you play this game.
“And I would say that this season, I probably had to fight more than I have ever had in any other season in my career – from injury to all COVID things and crazy circumstances. And it was worth every moment of it. For sure.”
Saints coach Sean Payton also said he could not speak for Brees and did not want to waste time reflecting on Brees’ future career in the Hall of Fame.
“Oh, listen, I think it’s probably for another press conference,” said Payton. “It would take all of my time with your question tonight. Obviously, it has been great for this team, this city, I could go on indefinitely. But we will wait and respond at the right time.”
Other teammates, from veteran linebacker Demario Davis to young receiver Tre’Quan Smith, used exactly the same word when asked what Brees meant to them – “everything”.
If this was Brees’s final game, he didn’t get the kind of career kick-off of other big names of all time, like John Elway or Peyton Manning. In fact, it was just the opposite.
Brees completed 19 of 34 passes for just 134 yards with a touchdown on a night when he struggled to put the ball on the field even more than usual. The Saints’ biggest pass came when reserve Jameis Winston launched a 56-yard TD pass in an artificial game that the Saints stole from the Chicago Bears, who tried against the Saints a week earlier.
And Brees failed to connect even once with the best receiver Michael Thomas on four targets. Brees’ first interception in the second quarter occurred when the Saints were winning 6-3 and he defeated Thomas. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting jumped in front of him and almost returned him for a touchdown.
Brees then made another choice in the fourth quarter, when the Saints were losing 23-20 and linebacker Devin White brought Alvin Kamara down in the middle of the field. The third interception occurred on an inclined pass when the Saints were losing 30-20 with less than five minutes remaining.
Jared Cook also lost a critical fumble in the third quarter, when the Saints were winning by 20-13 and had just crossed the midfield.
“I would say it is quite unusual, because we preach playing ‘winning football’. And you turn the ball four times, this is not ‘winning football’ – especially in the playoffs, especially against a team like that, “said Brees, who blamed himself for the interceptions.
“Well, some of them I probably shouldn’t have played and maybe forced there. And we were probably a little bit discouraged in the overall execution,” said Brees. “But, at the end of the day, that game was all about those twists.”