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Drew Brees joined Fox Sports' NFL coverage in November 2025 as a replacement for Mark Sanchez, and more than a year later, he is excelling in his first full season as a game analyst. Brees serves as the color commentator on Fox's No. 3 broadcast team for the 2026 NFL season, partnering with veteran play-by-play announcer Adam Amin. Before calling the highly anticipated Vikings-Packers NFC North clash on Sunday afternoon, Brees spoke with The Sporting News about his broadcasting career and other topics.
Brees is deeply passionate about his national television role, and his enthusiasm is evident in his thorough preparation for each broadcast. "I love our crew, and Adam is a true pro. We've got such great chemistry, and with Christina Pink on the sideline too," Brees said. "I love going to work with them every weekend. We've had a bunch of exciting games, a bunch of games that have gone down to the last play or the last drive."
He continued, "Honestly, I love the preparation that goes into a game. There's definitely a formula to it. That's definitely like developing a new muscle. When it comes to broadcasting a game and carrying a conversation for three hours, it can go in a bunch of different directions. Man, the preparation is a lot like playing the game – developing a game plan for how you're going to attack each side of the ball, building the strategy, and then talking to the coaches and the key players."
For Brees, broadcasting feels akin to being back on the field as a quarterback. He strives to put himself in the shoes of the QBs he's covering. "So many of these games come down to a decision or a play that happens by the quarterback, and so you get to those two-minute situations, the third down, the red zone. You're talking through matchups, situations of what can and can't happen – that gets the juices flowing, that's for sure."
While Brees takes pride in his X's and O's preparation, he also understands the importance of connecting with fans and highlighting the human element of the game. "I want to tell positive stories about the players and their journeys, the circumstances they've encountered, the adversity they've overcome," he said. "I want to educate the next generation of fans about the game and the evolution of the game, and give them a little glimpse of what it's like to play quarterback."
Brees balances his broadcasting duties with a busy life in Southern California, where he serves as an assistant coach and passing game coordinator for the Santa Fe Christian Eagles, the high school team featuring his sons Baylen (a senior), Bowen (a sophomore), and Callen (a freshman). Although he enjoys coaching at that level, Brees doesn't see himself making a jump to college head coaching like his former Chargers teammate Philip Rivers, especially given the current landscape. "I love the opportunity I've had to coach my kids. With three boys in high school, this year has been awesome," Brees said. "College football these days is a little bit different. With NIL and the transfer portal, it's pretty hard to be a college coach right now. The tough part is you feel like you invest so much to develop a guy, and then all of a sudden, he leaves. The rules give him the opportunity, which is tough. It becomes a financial decision, not necessarily what's in the kid's best interest from a developmental perspective. That part of college football is tough for me to grasp right now."
Key Analysis
Brees also reflected on the time he nearly played for Nick Saban in the NFL. In 2006, as a free agent with Philip Rivers ready to take over as the Chargers' starter, Brees narrowed his choices to the Saints and the Saban-led Dolphins. However, after Brees underwent right shoulder surgery in January 2006 to repair a torn labrum, the Dolphins' medical staff advised against signing him that March. The decision contributed to Saban's return to college football, where he dominated at Alabama from 2007-2023, winning six national championships in 17 seasons.
Brees recalled his strong connection to Saban and the Dolphins before their fateful choice. "Miami was a great option. Nick Saban was such a well-respected coach. I played against him in college when he was at Michigan State, while I was at Purdue. The Dolphins had just had a great year (in 2005). They had won their last six games," Brees said. "The defense was lights-out with Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor, and offensively, it was the same system we ran with the Chargers. I knew a lot of the coaches, including the offensive line coach and the quarterbacks coach. On paper, it was the obvious decision."
Although Miami seemed like the right fit at the right time, Brees feels blessed that divine intervention led him to New Orleans. "Very fortuitously, it was God calling for our life to be in New Orleans. Post (Hurricane) Katrina, and with Sean Payton coming there and his belief in me, it felt like it was the opportunity to be a part of something so much bigger than just football," he said. "Obviously, it all worked out the way it was supposed to, but it's hard not to wonder what could have been with that situation in Miami, because I had a lot of respect for Saban and the coaching staff."
Brees enjoyed tremendous success under Payton in New Orleans, making nine playoff appearances in 15 seasons and winning Super Bowl 44 over Peyton Manning and the Colts. Now, Payton's current team, the Broncos, is winning despite uneven quarterback play from Bo Nix. Denver leads the AFC West at 6-2 and is seeking another division title. "It's just about this: did you win or did you lose? They're finding ways to win. Kudos to them," Brees said. "It's pretty unbelievable. They've won (an NFL record) 16 one-possession games in a row, which is crazy. Sean Payton is unbelievable at putting his guys in positions to succeed."
As for Brees' former team, the Saints are still chasing their first NFC South title since his final NFL season in 2020. Despite a rocky start that put pressure on head coach Kellen Moore, New Orleans is tied for first place at 3-5 entering Week 10. A home win over the 3-5 Panthers on Sunday would give the Saints control of the division. Brees is optimistic about their playoff chances as the No. 4 seed, regardless of their final record. "It's right there in front of them, regardless of what's happened this season," Brees said. "They've had a lot of injuries, and they've had some inconsistency, but it seems like they're getting healthy at the right time. They've established their identity a bit."
The Saints also have reason for extra confidence against Carolina, having swept the Panthers last season. "The Saints beat them twice last year, both at home and away," Brees said. "They have Jordan Tyson healthy, and they have good receivers and tight ends. The defense seems like it's coming into its own. For all those reasons, the Saints are trending up."
Brees spoke to Sporting News through a partnership with ARS Pharma, promoting awareness of neffy, a life-saving nasal spray that provides a needle-free, pocket-sized option for administering epinephrine anywhere. "What all of us need to recognize, even for those who aren't the ones who suffer from allergies, but those who support in the environments where we have loved ones, friends, family who do, is knowing epinephrine is the only treatment for a severe allergic reaction or life-threatening anaphylaxis."
Originally reported by sportingnews.