Retired QB Drew Brees says he can only throw left-handed now،
Retired quarterback Drew Brees says he would still play if he could throw a football with his right arm, but that’s no longer possible because of his serious shoulder injury. suffered in 2005.
Brees, 44, made the revelation Tuesday when asked on ESPN Radio’s “Greeny” if he had received calls from teams trying to bring him out of retirement. He retired from the NFL in 2021 and said Tuesday that “there might have been a sensation or two” a year or two after his retirement.
He then added: “Look, I’ll tell you a little story. I don’t throw with my right arm anymore. My right arm doesn’t work. So when I throw in the yard right now, I throw to the left. – by hand.”
Brees was making an appearance to promote a pickleball event he played with John McEnroe and said, “I can play pickleball because it’s below the waist, but I struggle with anything below the waist over my shoulder.”
He said the dislocated shoulder he suffered in 2005 with the San Diego Chargers that nearly ended his career “put me on the fast track to a degenerative shoulder and all kinds of changes arthritic.
He added that he no longer throws with his right arm, but that “if I could, I would still play.”
Dr. James Andrews performed a repair on Brees’ shoulder in 2006 and reportedly used 12 anchors, which was the most he had ever used at the time, to repair a complete 360-degree tear of Brees’ labrum . Additionally, Andrews reportedly repaired at least a partial torn rotator cuff.
Brees signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2006 after the Miami Dolphins withdrew from bidding due to shoulder issues.
Brees said the Dolphins’ physicals were correct based on the “long-term prognosis” for his shoulder but that, with Andrews’ guidance, he was able to do short-term things to prolong his career.
“I owe a lot to Dr. Andrews,” he said.
With the Saints, he totaled 68,010 yards and 190 touchdowns in 15 seasons, leading the franchise to a Super Bowl championship following the 2009 season. His 80,358 passing yards and 571 passing touchdowns during his career are right behind Tom Brady.
