Drew Brees Reveals He Nearly Joined Dolphins Over Saints

The Hall of Fame quarterback shares how he almost never played for New Orleans.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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In a recent interview, NFL legend Drew Brees revealed that he nearly signed with the Miami Dolphins instead of the New Orleans Saints after leaving the San Diego Chargers. Brees said the Dolphins seemed like the "easiest decision" on paper, but ultimately the Saints' unwavering belief in him swayed his decision to join them instead.

Why it matters

Brees' decision to join the Saints over the Dolphins had a massive impact on his Hall of Fame career and the trajectory of both franchises. The Saints went on to win a Super Bowl with Brees as their quarterback, while the Dolphins continued to search for stability at the position.

The details

Brees revealed that during his free agency visit with the Dolphins, head coach Nick Saban told him the team's doctors thought he only had a 25% chance of ever playing again due to his major shoulder injury. Despite the Dolphins having an impressive roster and coaching staff, Brees said he "didn't really get the feeling that they had a ton of faith and confidence" in his ability to bounce back. In contrast, Brees said the Saints, led by Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis, had an "unwavering belief" in him to be their franchise quarterback.

  • Brees left the Chargers as a free agent in 2006.

The players

Drew Brees

A legendary NFL quarterback who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this month after a storied career, primarily with the New Orleans Saints.

Nick Saban

The head coach of the Miami Dolphins at the time Brees was a free agent in 2006.

Sean Payton

The head coach of the New Orleans Saints who helped convince Brees to join the team.

Mickey Loomis

The general manager of the New Orleans Saints who worked with Payton to bring Brees to the team.

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What they’re saying

“At the end of the day, Nick Saban looked me in the eye and said 'Our doctors think you have a 25% chance of ever coming back and playing again.' I was like, 'I know what they say, what do you think?' He was like, 'I've got to believe what the doctors are telling me, you know. We still want you, I'm just letting you know what's been said.'”

— Drew Brees (Dan Patrick Show)

“It's the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins. On paper, this was the easiest decision in the world – it's the Miami Dolphins all the way.”

— Drew Brees (Dan Patrick Show)

What’s next

Brees went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Saints, leading the team to a Super Bowl championship in 2010.

The takeaway

Brees' decision to join the Saints over the Dolphins shows the importance of belief and confidence from an organization in a player's ability to recover from injury. The Saints' unwavering support proved crucial in Brees becoming one of the greatest quarterbacks of his era.