Sean Payton ‘never heard’ about Drew Brees’ comeback attempt with Broncos in playoffs

KANSAS CITY — Sean Payton said Monday night that two Denver Broncos assistant coaches have yet to learn about Drew Brees’ comeback attempt after reports that they reached out to the quarterback before the AFC Championship Game in January.

Former Broncos assistants Joe Lombardi and Pete Carmichael reached out to 47-year-old Brees starter Bo Nick to speculate on the possibility of him coming out of retirement after suffering an ankle injury that ended his division championship with the Bills.

“I know I’m the odd one out,” he said after the Broncos’ 31-10 loss to the Chiefs. “I never heard anything about it. It never came to anything. I was only told about it later, so I was like you.”

There was no return for Brees, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in July, along with Payton. According to ESPN, Brees worked out after meeting with former Saints coaches Lombardi and Carmichael to see if his body was up to the task. Wrist discomfort during that workout caused Brees to shelve the idea.

The Broncos started backup Jarrett Stidham in place of the Knicks during the conference title game and suffered a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots. Payton fired Lombardi after the season and is now the top offensive assistant with the Baltimore Ravens. Carmichael left Denver in February to become the offensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills.

Brees and Payton spent 15 seasons together in New Orleans, leading the Saints to the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in 2009 and nine playoff appearances. In the year In Brees’ final season in 2020, 11 ribs and a lung were destroyed, and In 2023, he told ESPN that his right arm was in such bad shape that he couldn’t throw with it because of a damaged shoulder from previous injuries.