One of the most prolific careers in NFL history has come to an end as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees announced Sunday on Instagram he has decided to retire after 20 seasons.
Brees’ four children made the announcement in a video.
Brees added a message to the post that read:
“After 20 years as a player in the NFL and 15 years as a Saint, it is time I retire from the game of football.”
Brees, 42, retires as the NFL’s all-time leader in career passing yards (80,358) and ranks second all-time in touchdown passes (571) and completion percentage (67.7%). More than that, though, Brees will always be revered for helping to revive the Saints’ franchise and the city of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina when he and coach Sean Payton arrived together in 2006.
They led the Saints to the NFC Championship Game in that first year and won the only Super Bowl in franchise history three years later, with Brees being named the game’s MVP.
His decision to retire leaves an enormous void for the Saints to fill with either Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston or a quarterback to be named later.