Drew Brees is getting an early Christmas present.
Despite Fox Sports’ strict ban against its on-air NFL talent working for competitors, the network is allowing the Super Bowl-winning quarterback to call one of Netflix’s two Christmas Day games, sources tell Front Office Sports.
Fox has always been known as talent-friendly. Network brass decided to grandfather in Brees’s Netflix gig, say sources, because he landed it in September before joining Fox on Nov. 7.
As part of Netflix’s Christmas Day doubleheader, Brees is set to call Lions-Vikings with Noah Eagle of NBC Sports at 4:30 p.m. ET. Ian Eagle, Nate Burleson, and Matt Ryan of CBS Sports will call the Cowboys-Commanders game at 1 p.m. ET.
These one-shot NFL streaming gigs with Netflix or YouTube can generate a nice payday. A top color commentator can pocket $100,000 or more for a day’s work, sources say. A studio analyst can pull down $50,000 or more. But both Fox and ESPN are banning their NFL talent from working for competitors, say sources.
Meanwhile, the 46-year-old Brees is set to make his Fox debut in the broadcast during the network’s telecast of Giants-Packers on Sunday. Brees will team with play-by-play announcer Adam Amin and sideline reporter Kristina Pink on Fox’s third NFL broadcast team.
Fox hired the free agent Brees after parting ways with former game analyst Mark Sanchez. In his first game out for Fox, the former Saints star will get to analyze new Giants starting QB Jameis Winston, who’s replacing the injured Jaxson Dart.
The Fox gig marks a nice TV comeback for Brees. While he was still active with the Saints, he signed a multi-year deal with NBC Sports to cover NFL and Notre Dame games starting with the 2021 season. That positioned him as the heir apparent to analyst Cris Collinsworth on Sunday Night Football.
But Brees struggled in the booth, particularly during a Bengals-Raiders wild-card telecast with Mike Tirico in early 2022. NBC dropped him after only one season.
Since then, the legendary QB has been itching for another crack at the broadcast booth. During an interview with FOS Today, he predicted things would be different if he got another chance. He said he also wanted to call games; not serve as a studio analyst.
“I think I could be the absolute best at it, if given the opportunity. I valued my time at NBC so much, for that year after I played, I spent most of that time in-studio on Sunday Night Football, having to work with some incredible people. … But I didn’t really get the chance to broadcast NFL games,” said Brees before the start of the 2024 NFL season.
“And that’s what I feel like I’m most qualified to do. That’s what I feel like I’m most passionate about. And certainly where my knowledge base lies, right? Telling the story of the game, getting you inside the huddle, getting you inside the quarterback’s head, letting you know how we’re attacking this defense … That to me is something I’d love to do down the road when the time is right.”
There’s no doubting Brees quarterback knowledge. He ranks second all-time in NFL history behind only Fox’s Tom Brady in passing yards (80,358) and passing touchdowns (571)–and ahead of Peyton Manning in both categories. He was known as a fierce competitor, reaching 13 Pro Bowls over his 20-year career.
But can Brees deliver his analysis quickly and cogently on live TV? Is he willing to rip players, coaches and referees a la Troy Aikman of ESPN’s Monday Night Football when they deserve it? We’ll find out on Sunday. The good news? There will be less pressure on Brees since he’s third on Fox’s depth chart of game analysts behind Brady and Greg Olsen.
Fox declined to comment on Brees and Netflix. But the network was effusive while announcing his hire a week ago.
“Drew is one of the best to ever play the game, and we couldn’t be more excited to have his prolific credentials and unique insights as part of our coverage on Sundays,” said Brad Zager, president and executive producer, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Fox Sports family.”
In his own statement, Brees said he appreciated the opportunity. “I hope my passion for this game is reflected in the knowledge and insights I provide to the fans each Sunday.”
