Drew Brees Leads Potential Padres Ownership Group

Former NFL quarterback partners with Vuori CEO to bid on San Diego baseball team

Feb. 27, 2026 at 5:05am

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Drew Brees, the Hall of Fame NFL quarterback, has teamed up with Joe Kudla, the CEO of apparel company Vuori, to make a bid to purchase the San Diego Padres. The two have assembled a ownership group with deep San Diego roots that has submitted an initial bid for the team.

Why it matters

The potential sale of the Padres has generated significant interest, with Brees' involvement adding star power and local ties to one of the bidding groups. As the team looks to build on recent success and compete for a World Series title, the new ownership group could play a key role in the franchise's future direction.

The details

Brees, who played for the San Diego Chargers early in his NFL career, has teamed up with Kudla, whose Vuori brand is based in Encinitas, California. Together they have put together a ownership group to bid on purchasing the Padres, which were recently put up for sale. The group's local connections and Brees' status as a Hall of Fame quarterback are seen as potential advantages in the bidding process.

  • The initial bids for the Padres were submitted in February 2026.

The players

Drew Brees

A Hall of Fame NFL quarterback who played for the San Diego Chargers early in his career.

Joe Kudla

The CEO of the apparel company Vuori, which is based in Encinitas, California.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Padres ownership sale process is ongoing, with the team's current owners evaluating the various bids that have been submitted.

The takeaway

The potential involvement of a high-profile figure like Drew Brees, combined with the local ties of the ownership group, could make their bid an attractive option as the Padres look to build on their recent success and compete for a World Series championship.