Brees felt he could keep playing, but 'it was time' to retire

Drew Brees made his first public statement Wednesday after announcing his retirement from the NFL on Monday.

After 20 record-setting years, the now-former New Orleans Saints quarterback said he played every season since 2017 as though it could be his last year and ultimately determined the time was right after the 2020 campaign.

"I've always said as long as I can play the game at a high level, I'm having fun doing it, and I'm able to stay healthy, then this is something I'll do forever. Obviously, I've had some injuries the last two years that have been frustrating," Brees said, according to Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams.

"Could I keep playing? Yeah, I'm sure I could. But I'm also looking at my kids, my family, the age of my kids, and just gauging all of those things. There's a balance there. I also just felt like I would just feel it. I would feel when it was time. I felt that it was time."

Brees retires as the NFL record-holder for most career passing yards and completions.

He's not leaving football entirely, however. Brees has joined NBC as an analyst for both its Sunday night NFL broadcasts and Notre Dame football.

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