New Orleans Saints: A look at the Drew Brees/Tom Brady touchdown record race

Can the New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees break the passing touchdown record before Tom Brady?

Two competitors that have fought on the field for decades for a chance to be in the record books are now in a heated race to pass Peyton Manning‘s record of the most NFL passing touchdowns. Those two names are none other than New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees and New England Patriots’ Tom Brady.

These two names that will forever live in infamy in the NFL record book are now chasing a new record.

Peyton Manning is currently the NFL’s all-time passing touchdown leader. Throughout the extent of Manning’s career, he ended up passing for 539 touchdowns.

Now, it is Drew Brees and Tom Brady who will pass that mark. The question is, “Who will pass it first?” and “Who will end their careers with the record?”

Who will pass the record first?

The answer to this question is almost undoubtedly Drew Brees — until his latest thumb surgery and recovery time has allowed Tom Brady to slowly inch closer to it. After sitting for six weeks, Brady has now taken a six-touchdown lead on New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees.

Historically, over the past ten seasons, Drew Brees has thrown equal or more touchdowns per season than Tom Brady in seven of those seasons.

If you look at targets, there is a vast difference as well. Drew Brees is throwing to one of the NFL’s best receivers and MVP candidate Michael Thomas. Tom Brady is throwing to Julian Edelman, Mohammed Sanu, and Phillip Dorsett. While Brees has the best target, Brady definitely has more.

Counting James White and Alvin Kamara, the balance may shift back to Brees.

Right now they sit at Brady with 531 touchdowns and Brees with 525 touchdowns. Can Drew get 14 touchdowns in the last seven games of the 2019 season? Can he throw 14 before tom throws eight? Without the injury, the answer was obvious.

Now, Brees definitely has his work cut out for him to pass Brady and set the record in 2019.

Who will end their careers with the record?

The answer to this question lies in the length of our two competitors’ careers. Brady is currently 42 years old and Brees is 40 years old. They are well over the average age at which NFL players typical retire.

Both Brady and Brees have been two of the most durable players in the National Football League. Brees is coming off of thumb surgery and Brady has not had a major injury requiring surgery since his ACL in 2008, over 11 years ago.

Barring any other injury, the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback should be able to play longer than Brady and eventually surpass Manning and Brady and be the undisputed NFL career leader in passing yards AND touchdowns.

The last years of the Brady Brees era will be a terrific showdown to see who ends their career at the No. 1 position in all-time NFL passing touchdowns.