Revisiting Drew Brees Leaving the Chargers for the Saints
By Andrew Gullotta
Let's turn back the clocks to the 2006 offseason. The Saints were coming off a 3-13 season, forced to play all of their 2005 campaign on the road due to Hurricane Katrina. The Chargers were ready to kick quarterback Drew Brees, who had a career-threatening shoulder injury, to the curb for then-young gunslinger Philip Rivers.
Considering their circumstances back in 2006, winning a Super Bowl three years later seemed unlikely. Yet, they became one of the winningest franchises in the past 14 years, and are still extraordinarily relevant in the NFC Playoff Picture to this day.
Former #Panthers LB Luke Kuechly appeared on the @SiriusXMNFL radio show with Alex Marvez and Gil Brandt last night and named #Saints QB Drew Brees as the most challenging quarterback he ever played against.
— Christopher Dunnells (@ChrisDunnells) April 14, 2020
When looking back on Brees' path to the Saints, you see it's an odd one. At first, Brees wanted to return to San Diego. In his autobiography, he described that he had no intention on leaving the Bolts, but they had other plans. They were dead set on giving the starting role to former NC State QB Philip Rivers. Unless Brees wanted to backup Rivers, which wasn't an option to him, he was destined to leave.
As the free agency market developed for the injured quarterback, Brees really had only two options: Miami or New Orleans. Even though it might sound crazy now, Miami was the much flashier choice, as the Dolphins were coached by college football legend Nick Saban, and were quickly rising to compete for an AFC East title with the Patriots. However, Brees chose the Saints because they were more confident in his medicals. He felt like New Orleans truly believed in him.
Fast forward 14 years, and it is evident that the Saints made one of the best free agent signings of all time. On the other side, the Chargers and Dolphins can only think what could've been. Both teams have combined for just five playoff wins since then.
Even though Philip Rivers progressed into a solid, borderline Hall-of-Fame player, there is no argument between him and the best statistical passer of all time. The same could be said for the Dolphins as they are still looking for their franchise gunslinger.
When Brees came to the Big Easy, he and coach Sean Payton transformed the Saints from a lovable loser to an offensive juggernaut. It is clear that the Saints' decision to bring Brees to New Orleans changed the landscape of the NFL forever.