Sean Payton Expects Drew Brees To Be Back With Saints In 2020, Despite Interest From TV Network

Update:

Saints HC Sean Payton was asked Sunday if he could see QB Drew Brees retired and working in the booth as an analyst next season.

“No I see him on the field with us next season,” Payton said, per Allan Bell. 

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that at least one non-ESPN network has contacted Saints QB Drew Brees about whether he would be interested in transitioning from quarterback to TV game analyst.

However, Schefter says Brees hasn’t made a decision about his future.

“Drew has not spoken with them or anyone about any new opportunities,” a source close to Brees tells Schefter. “Until such time as a decision is made about next season, he will not be engaging in any conversations regarding or considering any new opportunities.”

According to Schefter, Brees would likely be viewed as a commodity as an analyst, similar to Tony Romo when he retired a few years ago and joined CBS.

The Saints currently do not have a quarterback under contract for the 2020 season with Brees and Teddy Bridgewater set to be unrestricted free agents and Taysom Hill headed for restricted free agency. 

Brees, 40, is a former second-round pick of the Chargers back in 2001. After five years with the Chargers, Brees signed on with the Saints as a free agent in 2006.

Brees has spent the past 12 seasons in New Orleans and played out the final year of his two-year, $50 million contract and will now be a free agent in the coming months. 

In 2019, Brees appeared in 11 games for the Saints and completed 74.3 percent of his passes for 2,979 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions.

We have him featured in our Top 100 – 2020 Free Agents list.