There is little Drew Brees hasn't done in the NFL.

Yet, Brees claims he would still be playing in the league if not for a shoulder injury that changed the trajectory of his career.

"If my arm wasn't put together with 13 anchors, I'd play until I was 45," The now-43-year-old Brees said. "And here's Tom doing it because it takes a lot of commitment and sacrifice and not everybody could do it."

Yes, Brees is claiming he would be playing until he's 45, like Tom Brady, if not for an untimely injury in 2005.

What happened to Brees' throwing arm?

Back then, Brees tore his labrum and underwent surgery to repair the torn cartilage in what was his dislocated throwing shoulder in January of 2006. That injury eventually caught up to him, despite playing 15 more seasons in the NFL.

By the end of Brees' run, his arm was about as strong as a pool noodle. He even admits it, kinda.

"It became a great struggle to be healthy enough to go out there and really perform at the highest level just with the limitations that I had," Brees said about his final season with the Saints. "I could dice you up inside of 40 yards all day long. But it became harder and harder to do things downfield."

Brees' last game came in 2021 when New Orleans lost to Tampa Bay. Immediately following his retirement, Brees went into broadcasting. Still, you can't help but wonder if Brees' career would have looked something like Brady's if not for an unfortunate injury that somewhat changed everything.

Regardless, Brees is happy with how things shook out.

"These are just such valuable moments, and I'm coaching all the kids and they've got games on the weekends," he said. "I just don't want to miss any of those moments right now."

Brees is Hall of Fame eligible in 2026. He will most likely be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

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Feature image via © SCOTT CLAUSE / USA TODAY Network