ACCORDING TO REPORT: Former Legendary New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees Reveals His Right Arm “No Longer Works” Due to Football Injuries — Speaks Openly About Ongoing Physical and Emotional Struggles..

In a deeply personal and somber revelation, former New Orleans Saints quarterback and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees has opened up about the lasting toll his historic football career has taken on his body — particularly his throwing arm, which he now says is all but non-functional due to years of repeated trauma, surgeries, and nerve damage.*

In an emotional interview that aired earlier this week, Brees stunned fans and the sports world alike when he admitted:
**“My right arm no longer works the way it should. Some days, it feels like it doesn’t work at all.”**

Brees, 46, retired from the NFL in 2021 after a storied 20-year career — 15 of those with the Saints — during which he became the face of New Orleans football and one of the most prolific passers in league history. But behind the records, accolades, and unforgettable Super Bowl XLIV win, Brees was fighting a battle that most fans never saw.

“I’ve got nerve damage from my neck all the way down to my fingertips,” Brees said. “There are days I can’t grip a toothbrush or pick up a glass without my hand trembling. My shoulder’s been reconstructed more times than I can count. The truth is, the arm that helped me throw for over 80,000 yards is now something I struggle to lift above my head.”

Brees underwent at least 13 documented surgeries throughout his career — including the now-famous 2006 shoulder reconstruction that many thought would end his career before it even truly peaked. Against the odds, he returned to the field, signed with the Saints, and went on to become the franchise’s most beloved player and one of the most respected men in all of professional sports.

Now, years after his retirement, the consequences of his commitment and sacrifice are finally surfacing in full.

“I used to wake up every morning thinking about winning,” Brees said. “Now I wake up thinking about whether I’ll be able to put on a shirt without pain.”

Medical experts consulted for the segment noted that Brees is likely suffering from **brachial plexus damage** — a serious nerve network condition that can result in weakness, loss of mobility, and chronic pain in the shoulder and arm. It’s commonly associated with traumatic contact injuries and repetitive overuse, especially in high-contact sports like football.

Despite the challenges, Brees remains positive and committed to advocacy. He says he’s working with multiple foundations focused on long-term player health, chronic pain management, and promoting early injury intervention in youth sports.

“I’m not looking for sympathy,” he said. “I just want today’s players — and tomorrow’s athletes — to understand what’s at stake. Protect your body. Speak up. Take care of your health, because you only get one body and one life.”

The NFL community has responded with an outpouring of support. Saints head coach Dennis Allen called Brees “a warrior whose legacy is now bigger than football,” while current QB Derek Carr called him “the model of sacrifice, leadership, and integrity.”

Fans across New Orleans have begun organizing tributes and wellness fundraisers in Brees’ name, while his former teammates continue to express gratitude and concern for the quarterback who once carried an entire city on his back — and is now living with the cost.

“I wouldn’t change the journey,” Brees said in closing. “But I want my story to serve as a wake-up call. Greatness shouldn’t come at the cost of lifelong pain. If I can help even one player avoid that future, then I’ve still got something left to give.”

Even without his iconic arm, Drew Brees continues to lead — not with passes, but with purpose.