Peyton Manning knows Drew Brees doesn’t need his advice on how to approach retirement after a legendary NFL career, but he still made sure to drop some valuable wisdom.
Speaking from the 25th Manning Passing Academy, held at Nicholls State, Manning called back to his own retirement and words from a former head coach.
“I think it’s that balance of finding things to keep you kind of busy and stimulated, but also protecting some free time,” Manning said. “That was the advice that Tony Dungy gave to me, was don’t just go full-speed, all-in on kind of thing right away."
Manning pointed to his brother, Eli, standing about 15 feet away, as another retired Super Bowl champion who didn't need his advice. The pair of New Orleans natives were out in Thibodaux, Louisiana, alongside their father and former Saints star Archie Manning for their annual camp, which was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Take some time to kind of figure out what you like to do, what you don’t like to do. Try some different things. I’m just taking it as a one year at a time basis. I don’t have a 5-year plan or a 10-year plan because you don’t know what opportunity might be available that year. So I guess that’d be my advice.”
Brees retired this past offseason after two decades in the NFL and is set to join NBC, where he’ll call Notre Dame games alongside Mike Tirico and serve as a studio analyst for the Sunday Night Football broadcast.
Manning said he expects Brees to approach that the same way he did every game in the NFL.
"He’ll be excellent at that,” Manning said. "You just know he will prepare like he did as a player and he’s a professional."