#Tom Brady wanted to join Saints if Drew Brees was retiring

“#Tom Brady wanted to join Saints if Drew Brees was retiring”

September 13, 2020 | 10:47am

It appears Tom Brady’s first choice was a different NFC South team.

As he walked away from the New England Patriots after 20 NFL seasons and six Super Bowls, Brady was interested in replacing Drew Brees with the New Orleans Saints if Brees, 41, was going to retire and begin his post-playing career with NBC Sports, according to multiple reports.

NFL Network reports “Brady made no secret of the fact that if Brees was retiring and heading to the TV booth, Brady would like to replace him.” Brady reportedly made his desire known to some Saints players, and head coach Sean Payton liked the idea.

The Saints, along with the Chicago Bears, made a run at Brady before the 43-year-old ultimately landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per NFL Network. The Saints’ pursuit concluded once Brees announced he was coming back to New Orleans for the 2020 NFL season. The previous belief, per the report, was Brady chose the Bucs over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Tom Brady Saints Drew Brees — Tom Brady and Drew Brees in 2017.AP

The Post’s Andrew Marchand first reported in April that Brees was signing a contract with NBC Sports that will begin once Brees retires from the NFL. He’ll be an NFL analyst who may eventually replace Cris Collinsworth on “Sunday Night Football.”

Brady will make his Buccaneers debut Sunday afternoon against none other than the Saints in New Orleans at 4:25 p.m.