Notre Dame Football: Drew Brees to replace Tony Dungy in NBC booth

NBC dropped some big news today that we already knew was on its way... Drew Brees will be the new game analyst for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football games in 2021.

NBC’s release:

DREW BREES JOINS NBC SPORTS

Super Bowl XLIV MVP to Serve as Studio Analyst for Football Night in America and Game Analyst for Notre Dame Football

Brees will also Work on Many of NBC Sports’ Biggest Events, Including the Olympics and Super Bowl LVI

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 15, 2021 – Drew Brees, one of the greatest players in NFL history, is joining NBC Sports as a studio analyst for Football Night in America and as a game analyst for its coverage of Notre Dame Football. Brees will also work on many of NBC Sports’ biggest events, including the Olympics and Super Bowl LVI. The announcement was made earlier this morning by Brees on the TODAY show.

During a 20-year NFL career as quarterback with the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers, Brees amassed an unprecedented collection of records, milestones and accolades, both on and off the field. He led the Saints to victory in Super Bowl XLIV and was named the game’s MVP. He was selected to 13 Pro Bowls, won two Offensive Player of the Year awards, is the NFL’s all-time leader with 80,358 career passing yards, ranks second all-time with 571 career passing touchdowns and shattered the league record with a touchdown pass in 54 consecutive games.

Brees has been just as prolific off the field. He and his wife, Brittany, established the Brees Dream Foundation in 2003, which has contributed more than $45 million to help improve the quality of life for cancer patients and provide care, education and opportunities for children and families in need. In 2006, Brees won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, one of the league’s highest honors that recognizes a player for his excellence on and off the field.

“We’re excited to have Drew join our team,” said Pete Bevacqua, Chairman, NBC Sports Group. “We know that Drew will apply the same work ethic and continuously positive attitude to everything he touches at NBC Sports and we know, as his new teammates, he’ll make us better.”

Brees said this morning on TODAY: “I’m part of the (NBC Sports) team now, a new team. I’m excited about that journey. I’m excited to stay very closely connected with the game of football. It’s been such an important part of my life. I can continue to talk about it and show a passion for it.”

Prior to his NFL career, Brees played quarterback at Purdue University. He was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s top collegiate player in 2000 and led the Boilermakers to a Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl appearance that same season.

Like I said... we knew some of this was coming, but Tyler James of the South Bend Tribune confirmed that Brees was actually replacing Tony Dungy instead of being an on-field analyst for his first year.

So, here we are again with another former “rival” (if you ever consider the Purdue Boilermakers a rival) in the booth to call Notre Dame games. All that’s left to say is... Gary Godsey says hello.