Drew Brees wasn’t joking about pickleball.
The former NFL quarterback has joined the ownership group of a Major League Pickleball franchise.
The former Super Bowl champion with the New Orleans Saints has become part-owner of the Mad Drops Pickleball Club in Austin, Texas.
Other owners include Los Angeles Lakers co-owner Jim Buss and the venture capital firm Good Alpha Industries, according to CNBC. Terms of Brees’ deal were not disclosed.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., and the 43-year-old Brees wants to help expand the game further.
“I’m stoked to be the newest team co-owner for Mad Drops Pickleball Club in Major League Pickleball,” Brees wrote on Instagram. “Our 12 team co-ed league represents an incredibly competitive and exciting brand of pickleball.”
With nearly 5 million U.S. players, pickleball has been ranked the country’s fastest-growing sport for two years in a row, according to USA Pickleball.
Other high-profile Major League Pickleball owners include Milwaukee Bucks owner co-owner Marc Lasry and former tennis pro James Blake.
After retiring from the NFL in 2020, Brees lasted only one season as a football analyst at NBC Sports. However, he might get another shot at the TV/streaming game.
Amazon is eying Brees to possibly star in a “QBs Only” alternative telecast for “Thursday Night Football” this season, said sources.
After splitting with NBC, Brees fired off a tweet joking he “may train for the pickleball tour.” Now the NFL legend looks to have leveled up.
