In April of 2020, NBC edged out ESPN to land the rights to Drew Brees as an analyst after his career concluded, and the early indications are that acquiring the future Hall of Fame quarterback will pay major dividends for the network.
Brees hasn't been perfect in the first two weeks of coverage for NBC, but he's fit in pretty well during "Football Night in America," which has now had three installments because the network had the telecast of the season-opening game on Thursday, Sept. 9.
The 13-time Pro Bowler has immediately built strong chemistry with Mike Tirico and Tony Dungy, along with Mike Florio, Chris Simms, Maria Taylor, Rodney Harrison, Jac Collinsworth and everyone else that appears on the program.
Perhaps the most important test facing Brees is one that he's already passed: the ability to, within reason, objectively discuss the New Orleans Saints.
When Jameis Winston and the Saints routed the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, Brees was happy to give credit to the team he spent the final 15 seasons of his playing career with. He even poked some fun at himself, saying that "the deep ball is back" now that he's no longer playing quarterback for the team.
In Week 2, the script was flipped, as the Saints were crushed by the division-rival Carolina Panthers, 26-7. Brees didn't pull any punches when discussing the Saints performance Sunday, and specifically the struggles they had offensively.
"...And, the New Orleans defense was on the field for 40 minutes. Why? Because the New Orleans offense couldn't do anything. And so, I actually feel like the New Orleans defense played pretty well, all things considered. And yet, they just had no help."
Brees provides an interesting perspective, because, of course, he was playing just last season. He was able to articulate thoughts on the Carolina defensive scheme last night, and talk about how awful playing against Aaron Donald was in Week 1. At the same time, he was also around long enough that he played against Brett Favre and Peyton Manning, the latter of whom he defeated in his only Super Bowl victory. So Brees will be able to pull from his battles against Favre, Manning and Tom Brady, while also being able to lend insight for the next two decades -- if he chooses -- on what it's like to compete against Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Justin Herbert.
Are there some small things to clean up? Sure. For example, Brees perhaps seems a bit over expressive with his hands when he's talking, but with experience that figures to be corrected. Normal life conversations and even being interviewed don't prepare you for the decorum of working in the media.
It isn't clear just how long Brees will be in his current role with NBC, which includes appearing in studio for Football Night in America and working as a game analyst for the network's coverage of Notre Dame telecasts. Assuming he enjoys working in media -- which, while not as time-consuming as being an NFL quarterback, is certainly a full-time job -- one would think this is just the first step for Brees.
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Andrew Marchand of The New York Post reported in April of 2020 that Brees "would be groomed as the potential replacement for Cris Collinsworth" on Sunday Night Football.
However, NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood told Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated in March of 2021 that the network's plan for Collinsworth was "to keep him in that chair for a long time." That makes sense, considering Collinsworth is only 62, and for as much as the internet likes to needle him, the former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver has been excellent as the color commentator on Sunday Night Football since succeeding John Madden in 2009.
The future of the SNF booth is hardly certain, though. While there's no indication that Collinsworth is going anywhere, Al Michaels -- who has been the announcer since SNF began in 2006 -- will see his contract expire at the end of this season. Michaels has been non-committal on his future, but the 76-year-old broadcasting icon remains one of the best in the business. If Michaels and NBC remain together beyond this season, presumably Collinsworth will stay. But if Michaels either retires or heads to another network, it will be interesting to see if Collinsworth remains in the booth over the long run with Tirico, or if the network would consider a pivot to Brees at any point.
In any event, Brees has impressed early on for NBC. In time, he may very well become one of the faces of the network's sports coverage.
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