NEW ORLEANS – Drew Brees was still on the Superdome field almost two hours after what was likely his last game at the historic home of the New Orleans Saints.
Brees, who is widely expected to retire after 20 seasons, did not make his intentions officially known after a disappointing 30-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the division round of Sunday’s playoffs. But he made sure to take it all in.
Brees and his wife, Brittany, played time with their four children – some football and some gymnastics. He also spent time chatting with old friend and rival Tom Brady. After the two greatest quarterbacks of all time shared a hug, Brady even threw a pass to one of Brees’ kids before moving on to the NFC Championship Game.
Brees, who turned 42 on Friday, hoped to hit his fourth NFC title game and his second Super Bowl this year. Instead, he threw three interceptions in a playoff game for the first time in his career, while Tampa Bay came back from a 20-13 deficit in the third quarter.
“I’m going to give myself the chance to think about the season, think about many things, just like last year, and make a decision,” said Brees when asked immediately if he just played his last game.
He said his performance on Sunday or the way the season ended would not affect his decision. But when asked what would weigh in the decision, Brees said, “I’ll keep that to myself now.”
However, Brees added that he did not regret coming back this year after nearly retiring from last season.
“I would never regret it. Never,” said Brees, who missed four games in November and December due to a punctured lung and 11 broken ribs, but still helped the Saints earn the number 2 in the NFC with a 12-4 record. for their disappointing finish.
“No complaints. No regrets. Man, I’ve always tried to play this game with great respect and reverence for it. And I appreciate everything this game has given me,” said Brees, who led the Saints to their one and only Super Bowl win in franchise history in 2009 and holds the NFL record for career passing yards. “Obviously there are so many incredible memories, so many incredible relationships that have come about as a result of playing this game. And man, you learn so much about yourself and you have to fight so much while playing this game.
“And I’d say I’ve probably had to fight more this season than ever in any other season in my career – from injury to all the COVID stuff to just plain crazy circumstances. And it was worth every moment of it. Absolutely.”
Saints coach Sean Payton also said he couldn’t speak for Brees and didn’t want to spend any time thinking about Brees’ future Hall of Fame career just yet.
“Oh listen, I think that’s probably for another press conference,” Payton said. “That would take up all my time with your question tonight. Obviously he’s been great for this team, this town, I could go on. But let’s wait and answer that at the right time. ‘
Other teammates, from veteran linebacker Demario Davis to young receiver Tre’Quan Smith, both used the exact same word when asked what Brees meant to them – “everything.”
If this was Brees’ last game, he wasn’t getting the kind of career sender of all time like John Elway or Peyton Manning. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
Brees completed 19 of 34 passes for just 134 yards with one touchdown on a night struggling to get the ball down even more than usual. The Saints’ biggest passing game came when backup Jameis Winston threw a 56-yard TD pass on a trick-play flea-flicker that the Saints stole from the Chicago Bears, who tried against the Saints a week earlier.
And Brees failed to connect with top receiver Michael Thomas even once on four goals. Brees’ first interception in the second quarter came when the Saints led 6-3 and interrupted Thomas. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting jumped for it and nearly returned it for a touchdown.
Brees then threw another pick in the fourth quarter when the Saints trailed 23-20 and undercut linebacker Devin White Alvin Kamara in the center of the field. The third interception came on a tipped pass when the Saints were trailing 30-20 with less than five minutes to go.
Tight-end Jared Cook also lost a critical fumble in the third quarter as the Saints were leading 20-13 and just passed midfield.
“I would say it’s quite unusual because we preach that we play ‘winning football’. ‘And you flip the ball four times, that’s not’ winning football ‘- certainly not in the playoffs, especially a team, ” said Brees, who blamed himself for the interceptions.
“Well, I probably shouldn’t have thrown some of them and maybe forced them in. And we were probably a bit off on the overall execution, ”Brees said. “But at the end of the day, that’s what this game boiled down to, those were turnovers.”