Report: ESPN, NBC, FOX chasing Brees for broadcast role

Drew Brees has yet to put the football down, but that hasn't stopped broadcast networks from trying to secure his post-play services.

NFL broadcasters ESPN, NBC, and FOX have all shown strong interest in hiring Brees once he retires and they're willing to sign him to a deal sooner rather than later, reports Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

The 41-year-old quarterback inked a two-year, $50-million deal with the New Orleans Saints in March as he looks to win another Super Bowl title before the end of his NFL career.

Nonetheless, ESPN is reportedly prepared to offer Brees $6.5 million per season. Another quarterback-turned-broadcaster, former Dallas Cowboys passer Tony Romo, reportedly signed a deal in February that will pay him $17 million per season as CBS' lead NFL game analyst.

ESPN continues to tinker with its broadcast pairing after popular analyst Jon Gruden returned to the sideline in 2018. The network has reportedly made several attempts to lure Peyton Manning to the booth, and Marchand notes network personalities Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, and Dan Orlovsky are the top candidates to replace the current team of Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland for the 2020 season.

Brees has told network executives he prefers to work on game broadcasts, according to Marchand. NBC and FOX already employ Cris Collinsworth and Troy Aikman for their respective lead analyst positions. Brees could theoretically replace one of them or start with either network's No. 2 broadcast team.