NFL legend Drew Brees reportedly almost pulled off a shocking comeback for Broncos' AFC title game
Broncos Consider Drew Brees for AFC Title Game – Decision Made in Minutes
In a dramatic turn of events that unfolded on the eve of the AFC Championship Game, the Denver Broncos almost handed a 47‑year‑old former NFL star a one‑shot opportunity to return to the field. The plan would have seen former Saints and Dolphins quarterback Drew Brees line up as a starter against the New England Patriots, but a wrist injury during a private workout prevented the comeback from materializing.
The Broncos were forced to look outside their roster after backup quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle during overtime of the divisional playoff against the Las Vegas Raiders. With the team’s regular and backup quarterbacks unavailable, head coach Jim McGreevey and the coaching staff, which includes former Saints assistants Joe Lombardi and Pete Carmichael, quietly reached out to Brees, who had been out of the league for five years since his retirement in 2021.
A NFL insider, Adam Schefter, tweeted that the Broncos had approached Brees “just hours before the game” and that the former Hall of Fame quarterback had taken the offer seriously enough to schedule a private throwing session on the field. According to Schefter, Brees tested his arm in the early morning, but a sudden wrist discomfort—an injury that had plagued him during a recent attempt to return to professional football—ended the plan.
Brees reportedly called off the comeback in the minutes after the workout, choosing not to risk injury or a potential blow to his future Hall of Fame prospects. A single snap in the game would have reset the five‑year retirement clock that began with his 2021 decision, pushing a projected Hall of Fame induction from 2026 to 2031.
The Broncos went on to start rookie quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who played the entire game. Denver fell 10‑7 to the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and the season ended with the team and its fans left to wonder what might have been.
Brees, who once endured a 25 % chance of a full shoulder recovery when the Dolphins declined him in 2006, has long been an icon in the sport. His name is synonymous with resilience, having led the Saints to a Super Bowl title and been named league MVP twice. The brief possibility of a return in 2024, a full year after his final NFL season, was one of the most striking “what‑if” moments in recent playoff history.
While the Broncos’ coaching staff moved quickly to secure the best option for their championship aspirations, the decision to sideline Brees underscored the physical limits that can dictate even the most ambitious comeback narratives.
In the aftermath of the game, the Broncos and their organization reflect on the lessons learned and the “what ifs” that remain part of the fabric of the sport. The story of a 47‑year‑old quarterback poised to re-enter the NFL, only to step back for his health, will likely be recounted for years to come as a reminder of the fine line between possibility and practicality in professional football.
