GOOD NEWS: One of the huge legacy has been left by the New Orleans quarterback who resigned as…
After 20 seasons, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees revealed on Instagram on Sunday that he was retiring, capping one of the most successful careers in NFL history.
Brees’ four children, Baylen, Bowen, Callen, and Rylen, made the following announcement in a video: “Our dad is finally going to retire after 20 years in the NFL and 15 years with the Saints. in order for him to be with us more often! Yes, indeed!”
Brees updated the post with the following message:
“It’s time for me to go away from the game of football after playing in the NFL for 20 years and spending 15 years as a Saint. I gave it everything I had every day to be your quarterback. I gave everything I had to the Saints organisation, my team, and the wonderful city of New Orleans until the very end. We had some incredible times together, many of which are ingrained in our memories and will always be a part of who we are.
“You have given me a lifetime of memories and have shaped, strengthened, and inspired me. For the past fifteen years, I have made it my mission to return the favour by giving you even more than you have received. I’m not retiring from New Orleans; I’m just retiring from playing football. This is a fresh start, not farewell. The work of my real life now begins!”
The 42-year-old Brees ends his career as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (80,358) and completion percentage (67.7%), ranking second all time in touchdown passes (571). More than anything, though, Brees will always be remembered for his role in reviving both the Saints team and the city of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2006, when he and head coach Sean Payton moved here together.
Three years later, they won the lone Super Bowl in the Saints’ history, with Brees taking home the MVP award. They had also guided the team to the NFC Championship Game the previous season.
“When I was hired by the Saints as head coach in 2006, the very first goal was to establish a functional and winning culture,” Payton stated in a statement. “In doing so, it was vital to know what we were looking for in a player, talent, work ethic, makeup, intelligence and leadership are all qualities we found in Drew Brees. … I am forever grateful for what he has done for our team, our community and for me personally.”
Despite guiding the Saints to four consecutive NFC South titles over the previous four years, Brees never returned to a second Super Bowl. In the playoff divisional round, his final game ended in a depressing 30-20 loss to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
His retirement creates a huge hole that the Saints will need to cover with Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston, or an unnamed quarterback.
Being one of the greatest players of all time, Brees has long since cemented his legacy.
In addition to his spectacular stats and historical achievements, Brees will always be regarded as a fantastic underdog. Brees, who stands barely six feet tall, was only recruited by two institutions prior to having a record-breaking career at Purdue. In 2001, he was selected in the second round of the draft and signed a contract with the San Diego Chargers.
