New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has thrown for at least 5,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, so you can bet he hasn’t thought too much about retirement.
In fact, the 35-year-old feels so good that he said Friday he’d like to play another 10 years.
Brees cited quarterbacks such as Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady as proof it’s possible for him to play at a high level into his 40s and that he sees the prospect as a personal challenge.
“I’m not getting ahead myself, like it’s a pipe dream, at 45,” Brees told NFL Media’s Albert Breer at Saints training camp in West Virginia. “I understand the challenges that come along with that. But why not?”
The biggest challenge Brees sees would be staying healthy and maintaining good physical condition. He is entering his 14th season in the NFL and has missed only one start since joining the Saints in 2006.
“If I can stay healthy, and I’m having fun and playing at a high level, why wouldn’t I wanna do that?” Brees told Breer. “The biggest challenge is physically, the maintenance, the recovery, the way you train. You gotta hope that you stay healthy, but why not?”
Brees threw for a career-high 5,476 yards and 46 touchdowns in 2011 at age 32. In the last three seasons, he has posted a passer rating of 103.8, much higher than his 95.3 career mark.
