Drew Brees is now the co-owner of a professional pickleball team
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Drew Brees has found his next gig.
The longtime New Orleans Saints quarterback and former NBC analyst announced on Thursday that he is now the co-owner of a professional pickleball team.
Yep, you read that right.
“I am an avid pickleball player, fan and student of the game,” Brees said in a statement, via Nola.com. “The opportunity to be a part of the ownership group of the Mad Drops PC is something I’m extremely excited about, and I look forward to helping raise awareness around the incredible players and competitions in MLP, helping grow the sport of pickleball and fostering overall fan engagement.
"As a long-time professional athlete and competitor, myself, I look forward to working with the Mad Drops PC team in our relentless quest to win many championships in the years to come.”
[Set, hut, hike! Create or join a fantasy football league now!]
It’s unclear how much Brees bought in to join the ownership group of the Austin-based Mad Drops Pickleball Club. Los Angeles Lakers owner Jim Buss, Bravo’s Ryan Serhant and entrepreneur Andrew Dodge also joined.
Brees’ new team is apparently set to compete next in Newport Beach, California, on Aug. 5.
While it’s definitely an unusual path for a former quarterback to take after retirement, it shouldn’t be all that surprising.
First, owning a pickleball team isn’t that time consuming — meaning that Brees can still do other things. He’s rumored to be in talks to join Amazon’s broadcast team for its “Thursday Night Football” coverage this fall, too.
Brees has also been open about his pickleball interest, and even hinted at a future in the sport earlier this summer when refuting a report that he was out at NBC.
Despite speculation from media about my future this fall, I’m currently undecided. I may work for NBC, I may play football again, I may focus on business and philanthropy, I may train for the pickleball tour, senior golf tour, coach my kids or all of the above. I’ll let you know
— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) May 15, 2022
So while it’s unclear what Brees will do next in his broadcast career, if anything, he at least has a new team to run — and he seems thrilled about it.
