Drew Brees hung up his cleats earlier this year after the Saints’ playoff run came to a close, retiring as the NFL’s all-time leading passer with over 80,000 yards. The Super Bowl champion is a lock to go to Canton in a few years once he’s eligible, but he didn’t waste much time finding his second career, as he quickly inked a deal with NBC to join their NFL coverage for the 2021 season.
Brees made his debut on Sunday Night Football on Thursday for the season opener between the Cowboys and the Buccaneers, joining Mike Tirico and Tony Dungy on the field.
Welcome to the team, @drewbrees! 👋#Kickoff2021 pic.twitter.com/EC1lG9R0Bh
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 9, 2021
NFL fans were quick to notice that Brees looked a bit different than the last time we saw him on an NFL field, not just because he swapped a jersey for a suit, but also because his hair had made a miraculous recovery over the last year.
As an openly bald man, I preferred openly balding Drew Brees.
We’ve lost another one. 😢 pic.twitter.com/2ITpyL2AKd
— Dan Kelley (@DanKelley66) September 10, 2021
I love you Drew Brees, but you ain’t foolin nobody with this new hair dawg 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/CxqLmJTQwC
— NINERS ON TOP (6-5) (@kdsexual) September 10, 2021
Drew Brees hairline gotta win comeback player of the year. @NBCSports @SNFonNBC @drewbrees pic.twitter.com/2Gy0vnnuGY
— C (@Super_Wattage) September 10, 2021
Brees, as many have pointed out, isn’t the first player to suddenly find a hairline as he began a new TV gig, as the same thing happened (and then un-happened) with Jason Witten when he entered the Monday Night Football booth before returning to football with the Raiders.
https://twitter.com/CharlieRicker24/status/1436121228985634822
https://twitter.com/_bawbfromonline/status/1436120532169146371
There were some terrific jokes as fans took in Brees’ new look, particularly those with a little New Orleans flair.
https://twitter.com/dacrystvlmethod/status/1436123832960499727
Drew Brees applied to FEMA for a specialty tarp
— skooks (@skooks) September 10, 2021
Drew brees got that Boosie bad azz fade lmao
— Yellow Boiii (@yellow815) September 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/KyleThames_87/status/1436122745687904257
Congrats to Drew Brees on his new job and his new hair! pic.twitter.com/xXUvIvfH6F
— Mark Skog (@MarkSkog) September 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/HagHaney/status/1436120047550820357
Drew Brees looking at Tirico… pic.twitter.com/uJpL8N4AeE
— Andrew Williams (@AMW_FC) September 10, 2021