Drew Brees is officially no longer a part of NBC’s NFL and Notre Dame coverage.
The decision was reported by The New York Post in May but had yet to be confirmed until today. Shortly after that story posted, Brees posted on social media a rebuttal. He claimed that no decision on his future with the network had been made.
NBC Sports chairman Pete Bevacqua confirmed the separation in an interview with the Associated Press.
“The unbelievable busyness of an NFL career and then really not taking a break at all and launching right in with us with both Notre Dame football and the NFL, it was certainly an around-the-clock assignment,” Bevacqua said. “This was definitely a lifestyle choice for him, which is totally understandable.”
Brees signed a multi-year contract with NBC in 2020, while still active with the New Orleans Saints. He became an analyst for Notre Dame football games with Mike Tirico. He was also featured in the studio on most Sundays for Football Night in America. The team of Brees and Tirico did get to call the wild card round game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals.
Bevacqua said they wouldn’t prevent Brees from embracing another opportunity from another network if it presented itself, despite still being under contract with NBC.
