Drew Brees has revealed the reasons why he decided to retire. For 15 years, the former New Orleans Saints quarterback has given his all to the team, but after 20 seasons in the league realized "it was time."
Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, Brees explained that injury, combined with family responsibilities, played a role in his decision to call it quits.
"At the end of the day, the factors that go into this are, 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," he said via Pro Football Talk.
"I don’t think they were injuries that were saying I was getting old. But nonetheless, I had the thumb that ruled me five games two years ago, and then had the ribs and the lung that holds me out for four games this past year," he said.
"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 announced his retirement Sunday with the help of his four children- Baylen, 12, Bowen, 10, Callen, 8, and Rylen, 6.
"After 15 years with the Saints and 20 years in the NFL, our dad is finally gonna retire, so he can spend more time with us! Yay!" they say in a video shared to Brees' official Instagram account.
"I am only retiring from playing football, I am not retiring from New Orleans," he wrote in alengthy caption. "This is not goodbye, rather a new beginning. Now my real life's work begins!"
Brees will appear as an analyst on "Football Night in America," and a commentator during Notre Dame football games, Fox News reported.
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