Would Drew Brees Really Join The Minnesota Vikings? New Orleans Saints Legend Reveals His Biggest Obstacle

Drew Brees would love to throw to Justin Jefferson, but his right wrist and shoulder say no.© X/@NFL_DovKleiman

A joke between friends turned into a national talking point on Monday night. Troy Aikman told millions of viewers that Drew Brees might leave the Fox booth and rescue the Minnesota Vikings at quarterback. The idea sounded wild. Yet the Vikings are 6-2, own a top defense, and struggle to pass the ball. Brees, now 47, has answered, and his reply mixes humor, longing and a hard physical truth. Here is what the New Orleans Saints legend said, why comeback talk found such fertile ground in Minnesota, and what stands in his way today.

Drew Brees Says He Would Love To Throw To Justin Jefferson

Troy Aikman dropped the bombshell during the Vikings' 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He told play-by-play partner Joe Buck that Brees was thinking about unretiring, and that Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell would sign him right away.

Drew Brees says the whole thing started as a text. He was cooking steaks and potatoes at home when he joked with Tony Gonzalez about leaving the booth. Aikman repeated it on air about 30 seconds later.

Asked about it by Adam Kaufman on USA Today Sports, Brees played along.

13 years ago today, the #Saints beat the Cowboys 49-17  Drew Brees that night: 34-41 392 YDS 4 TDS : vs Panthers on Sunday (12 pm CT | FOX) https://t.co/yDHYUWqUKk

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 10, 2026

“Tough window. You watch those Vikings games and, man, defense is playing so well,” Brees told Kaufman. “Unfortunately, offensively, they haven't been able to have the production that I know they want. But I'd love to throw to Justin Jefferson. That's for sure.”

Why The Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Problem Keeps Drew Brees In The Conversation

Look at the Monday night numbers and the joke makes sense. Carson Wentz started in place of Kyler Murray and completed eight of 25 passes for 81 yards before the Vikings benched him. The team finished with just 178 total yards. Minnesota owns the NFL's second-worst passing offense, even with a star like Justin Jefferson on the roster.

Reports say the Vikings are calling around about quarterbacks before the trade deadline. One report adds they have asked about Justin Herbert and three others.

Brees, who retired after 2020 with 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdowns, has flirted with a return before. The Denver Broncos reached out in September to replace an injured Bo Nix. He said no, and he explained why.

“My mind, my body, everything else feels great, but my right wrist, right shoulder wouldn't allow it to happen,” Brees said on the Let's Go Podcast. “But did I think about it? Absolutely, 1,000 percent. I would've loved to come back and play for the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, get my coach and a bunch of the other guys that I know in that organization, the Penner family, to the Super Bowl. Would've loved it.”

So the answer for Minnesota stays the same. Brees will call Packers-Vikings from the Fox booth this weekend, not throw passes in it.