Will Tom Brady retire before Drew Brees?

Tom Brady gets infinitely more attention than Drew Brees for continuing to play at a high level at his age, which is understandable considering the New England Patriots signal-caller is about to play in his ninth Super Bowl and fourth in the past five years. However, Brady is less than two years older than Brees, and there’s a chance the latter could outlast the former.

Jay Glazer of The Athletic was asked in his mailbag this week if he could envision Brady and Bill Belichick retiring together if they defeat the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl. He said he would not rule it out, and he also predicted that Brady will retire before Brees.

“This is the first year that I can see that happening,” Glazer wrote. “I have nothing to base this on, besides a gut feeling, but I can see it happening this year. I can see it being one or the other or both. I think Brady steps away before Drew Brees does.”

Brady is 41 and will turn 42 in August. Brees turned 40 on Jan. 15. While Brady did enough to lead his team to yet another Super Bowl, Brees outplayed him by a wide margin during the regular season. In fact, the Saints quarterback’s 115.7 passer rating was the best mark of his career and the best among NFL starters.

Again, Brady has accomplished much more than Brees. But he also gets more attention for playing at a high level into his 40s because it has become part of his TB12 brand. With the way Brees played in 2018, it’s just as easy to see him playing another four or five seasons as it is Brady.

If not for one of the worst calls in NFL history, Brees would also be playing in a Super Bowl after his 40th birthday. It seems unlikely that Brady would retire whether the Patriots beat the Rams or not, but the idea of Brees outlasting him is not all that farfetched.