Drew Brees, widely regarded as one of the NFL's most precise and cerebral quarterbacks, retired in 2020 after a storied 20-year career.
A Super Bowl champion and the face of the New Orleans Saints franchise, Brees left behind a legacy built on accuracy, anticipation, and mechanical excellence. With more than 80,000 passing yards and 571 touchdowns to his name, Brees sits among the league's all-time greats.
Though his playing days are over, Brees continues to study the game. And recently, he shared the name of one current quarterback who reminds him of himself: Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow. Appearing on ESPN's This is Football, Brees praised Burrow's approach to the position.
"Joe Burrow to me is like a surgeon-just a technician," Brees said. "I relate to him most in how disciplined he is with his drops, how his technique is so practiced and refined, and how he carries that swagger and command at the line."
Burrow entered the league in 2020, the same year Brees retired, after being selected No. 1 overall by the Bengals. Unlike Brees, who didn't truly flourish until joining New Orleans in 2006, Burrow made an immediate impact. He led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in just his second season and helped the franchise reach the AFC Championship Game the following year.
The parallels between the two quarterbacks go beyond mechanics and football IQ. Both are known for their resilience. Brees won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award twice, once after a devastating shoulder injury. Burrow has now done the same, most recently for his incredible 2024 season following wrist surgery.
In 2024, Burrow led the NFL in passing yards (4,918), touchdowns (43), and completion percentage (70.6%), earning league-wide praise for his efficiency and command. He even broke Tom Brady's record for the most consecutive games with at least 250 passing yards and three touchdowns, doing so in eight straight contests.
Despite Burrow's MVP-level production, the Bengals missed the playoffs, hampered by a bottom-tier defense. Ever the leader, Burrow took accountability for the team's shortcomings, but his numbers painted a different story - Cincinnati boasted the NFL's most potent passing attack.