Saints Legend Drew Brees Reveals His Intention to Coach
By [Author Name] | January 17, 2026
NEW ORLEANS, LA – In a developing story that is sending shockwaves through the NFL and the college football landscape, New Orleans Saints legendary quarterback Drew Brees has signaled a significant shift in his post-playing career. After years of speculation, philanthropy, broadcasting, and a brief foray into the college game, Brees appears poised to return to the sidelines in a more permanent coaching capacity.
While a formal announcement regarding a specific title or team has not yet been issued by the Hall of Famer, sources close to the situation indicate that Brees has been actively restructuring his personal and professional life to accommodate the demanding schedule of a football coach. This “Breaking News” revelation is not centered on a single job offer, but rather a definitive change of heart regarding the “coaching lifestyle” that Brees himself once balked at.
Just over six months ago, Brees publicly stated that he could not see himself committing to the grind of being a college or NFL coach. “The coaching lifestyle is not, it’s not (easy),” Brees told Kay Adams in July 2025 . However, citing the recent and rapid development of young quarterbacks like Tyler Shough and Bo Nix, as well as his deeply personal experience coaching his sons at the high school level in California, Brees has now reversed that stance.
“I love coaching. I love coaching my kids. Indirectly, I am always coaching,” Brees said in a recent interview, reflecting on his evolving mindset . “Whether it be with young players who are coming up and asking for advice, or an NFL guy calling, I have those conversations all throughout the year.”
The Mentorship Model
The clearest evidence of Brees’ transition into a coaching mindset has been his hands-on work during the 2025-2026 season. Rather than simply serving as a distant figurehead, Brees has embedded himself directly into the development of several key quarterbacks.
Most notably, Brees has taken New Orleans Saints rookie signal-caller Tyler Shough under his wing. Shough, who finished the 2025 season strong, recently revealed the extent of Brees’ involvement. “He’s awesome. He’s an incredible mentor because of just who he is on and off the field,” Shough told Fox News Digital . Shough explained that Brees didn’t just offer platitudes; he gave him a detailed “process” for attacking each day as a professional.
“He’s the pinnacle of being a quarterback in my opinion. He was big for me,” Shough added . The rookie credited Brees with helping him stay ready while backing up Spencer Rattler, a preparation that paid off when Shough led the Saints to a four-game winning streak in December.
Brees’ influence, however, stretches far beyond the Saints facility. He has become a sought-after private tutor for the league’s rising stars. Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, coached by Brees’ old mentor Sean Payton, spent four to five days with Brees in San Diego last offseason. “There’s a lot that he wants to absorb in a fast period of time,” Payton said of Nix’s visit .
From the Cradle to the Sideline
For Brees, coaching is a return to his roots. Before he was breaking records in the Superdome, he was a legend at Purdue University. The “Cradle of Quarterbacks” has long revered Brees, and his relationship with his alma mater has only intensified.
In 2022, Brees returned to West Lafayette as an interim assistant coach to help the Boilermakers prepare for the Citrus Bowl . It was a temporary role at the time, seen as a favor to new coach Ryan Walters. “I am extremely excited to work with our team over the next few weeks as we prepare for the Citrus Bowl,” Brees said then . “I see it not only as an opportunity to coach and mentor this group of young men but to represent all the former Purdue players.”
That “temporary” stint seems to have been a gateway drug. Current Purdue quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw actively uses Brees’ legendary work ethic as the standard for his room. Hinshaw once recalled watching Brees run an entire offensive meeting without Saints coaches Sean Payton or Joe Lombardi saying a word . “Drew Brees ran the meeting,” Hinshaw said.
The Family Factor
Perhaps the most telling indicator of Brees’ intentions is his current role at Santa Fe Christian in Solana Beach, California, where his sons, Baylen and Bowen, play. Brees has been serving as the quarterbacks coach for the high school team .
This experience appears to have humanized the coaching profession for the future Hall of Famer. While the financial incentives of the NFL are irrelevant to a man of Brees’ wealth, the competitive drive remains. Sources indicate that Brees has missed the urgency of game-planning, the film study, and the “chess match” of football. Coaching his sons rekindled that fire, proving to him that he could derive satisfaction from teaching the game, regardless of the level of pay.
What Does This Mean for the Saints?
The timing of Brees’ change of heart is fascinating for the New Orleans Saints organization. The team just finished a promising 2025 campaign under rookie head coach Kellen Moore and quarterback Tyler Shough . Moore has successfully installed a modern offense, but the idea of adding Brees—perhaps the greatest player in franchise history—to the coaching staff is a tantalizing prospect for owner Gayle Benson.
For now, the Saints have not commented on the rumors, and there are no immediate plans to remove Moore or offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. However, league insiders suggest that Brees is unlikely to accept a “consultant” role. If he returns to the NFL, he wants to coach—specifically, he wants to mentor.
Former teammate Reggie Bush, who has remained close with Brees, hinted at this dynamic last year. “I would 100% want to coach with him,” Bush said . “If I played with him, why wouldn’t I coach with him?”
The Hall of Fame Factor
This announcement comes against the backdrop of the highest honors. Brees is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, with the official enshrinement ceremony scheduled for August . Having the finality of the Hall of Fame induction behind him seems to have cleared a mental block.
In the past, Brees was careful not to step on toes in New Orleans or Purdue. He was a businessman, a broadcaster, and a legend. Now, with his bust in Canton finalized, Brees is ready to define the third act of his football life: Coach Brees.
“He’s not the best quarterback in the NFL because he is the most talented,” Hinshaw said, summarizing the Brees doctrine. “He threw for more yards and more touchdowns than anybody because he outworked everybody” .
As the 2026 offseason progresses, expect Brees’ name to surface for every open quarterback coach job and offensive coordinator vacancy. For a generation of quarterbacks—from Shough in New Orleans to Nix in Denver—Drew Brees is no longer just a legend on a poster. He is their teacher. And now, he is ready to make it official.
