Overview
- Brees told the Let’s Go podcast he immediately texted former Saints coaches Pete Carmichael and Joe Lombardi to ask if Denver needed him after Bo Nix’s playoff injury.
- He said he tested throwing the next morning with his 13-year-old son catching passes and concluded lingering right wrist and shoulder damage made a return impossible.
- Earlier reports had said Broncos staff contacted Brees and coach Sean Payton said he was unaware of any outreach, creating conflicting accounts that the latest statement now narrows.
- Because Brees remains on the Saints’ reserve/retired list, any unauthorized contact could count as tampering, but the NFL has not opened a formal investigation or commented.
- The Broncos ultimately started backup Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship and lost 10-7, and Brees’ version makes league discipline less likely though the technical tampering question is unresolved.