Legends rarely stay quiet for long. After defining two decades of NFL football, Drew Brees is now intent on rewriting his story in the broadcast booth. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback has always aimed high, and this week, he made it clear that his ambitions in broadcasting remain very much alive.

When Brees appeared on the Dan Patrick Show in August, he was incredibly confident despite his inexperience in the NFL broadcast booth. He said, “I have so much respect for a lot of guys in the booth right now, but I’d step in the booth right now and be a top-three guy. Like, without question. And then you give me a few years, and I could be the best.”

Now, just days after making his appearance on NFL on FOX in Week 3, Brees took to Instagram to reshare that clip of his viral comments about being “a top-three guy” if given a shot in the booth. The 46-year-old doubled down on his belief that he has the vision, voice, and football insight to eventually become the best in the business. For a man who spent his playing career proving doubters wrong, it was a familiar tone.

Brees’ latest comments echo what he told Dan Patrick earlier this year. The Super Bowl MVP said he laughs at the perception that he “failed” in his short broadcasting stint with NBC, adding that he only had two NFL booth opportunities eight weeks apart. Despite that, he insists his perspective as a quarterback gives him a unique edge that could translate into a long-term career behind the mic.

Drew Brees stepped in for Julian Edelman on Fox’s NFL Kickoff and NFL Sunday shows last weekend, joining Charissa Thompson, Charles Woodson, and Jay Glazer. Although his role was just for a short time, it gave fans a glimpse of what Brees can bring to the table as an analyst. Later this winter, he’ll have another chance to call an NFL game when Netflix airs one of the matchups on Christmas Day.

For now, Brees is once again chasing an opportunity—this time not to lead a team down the field, but to win over audiences from the booth. And if history is any guide, betting against him may prove unwise.

Drew Brees headlines 2026 Hall of Fame nominees

The path to Canton is now officially open for Drew Brees. The legendary quarterback was named among the 128 modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, earning a spot in his first year of eligibility.

Brees enters the ballot with a resume that few in NFL history can rival. He ranks second all-time in passing yards (80,358) and touchdowns (571), trailing only Tom Brady. Over a 20-year career split between the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints, he transformed from an undersized gamble into one of the most prolific passers the game has ever seen.

His legacy goes far deeper than numbers. In 2006, Brees joined the Saints and helped revive a franchise and a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Just three seasons later, he brought New Orleans its first-ever Super Bowl title, defeating Peyton Manning and the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. Brees won MVP that evening, solidifying himself as the face of an all-time run.

The accolades stacked up from there: 13 Pro Bowls, two AP Offensive Player of the Year awards, one All-Pro nod, and four second-team All-Pro selections. Year by year, his accuracy and consistency redefined quarterback play, with nine seasons with 5,000 or more passing yards.

The Hall of Fame selection process will narrow the field to 50 in October, then to 25, and finally to 15 before February’s final vote. Few doubt Brees will be among the chosen. For a player who once had to fight to prove he belonged, a first-ballot induction now feels like the only fitting ending.