Reggie Bush, ex-Super Bowl champ, gets candid about how Drew Brees changed his career forever
Reggie Bush was not on Saints radar because he was locked for first pick until Drew Brees swayed him to join him in New Orleans.
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Drew Brees and Reggie Bush (Image via IMAGO)
The duo of Drew Brees and Reggie Bush will always be etched into the minds of the New Orleans Saints fans. But it nearly did not happen.
Draft analysts and scouts unanimously put Bush as the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft right after his dominating season with USC, which he ended by winning the Heisman Trophy. However, a few days prior to the draft, Bush found out that the Houston Texans, who held the first pick, were eyeing someone else.
Bush and his agent were baffled by the sudden change in the status quo and were asking around for the reason when Drew Brees called him.
He [Drew Brees] was like man, great to meet you and talk to you but I wanna let you know that, I played with who I think was one of the greatest running backs ever… LaDainian Tomlinson. I think you have an opportunity to be just as good or better than him and I can’t wait to play with you. And that gave me all the confidence and it’s like this is the spot for me. This is where I need to go.
Reggie Bush revealed on Robert Griffin III’s podcast Outta Pocket
Reggie Bush explaining how Drew Brees changed his career forever is worth 3 min of your time. Shows you how important the QB is, especially in New Orleans. @Saints @ReggieBush pic.twitter.com/3bcFkCvrbA
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 1, 2025
Brees and Tomlinson played together for five seasons before the 4x All-Pro quarterback decided to leave following a contract dispute with the San Diego Chargers (Los Angeles Chargers). He joined the Saints, and they drafted Bush second overall.
Why didn’t the Texans draft Reggie Bush?
It took a while but Bush eventually discovered the reason behind the Texans drafting someone else. Bush revealed the complications surrounding the Heisman Trophy hampered his draft stock.
While appearing on former Patriots receiver Julian Edelman’s podcast, Bush revealed that Texans were put off after the NCAA began an investigation against him for receiving favors from USC during their recruitment drive. It painted a bad picture.
Supposedly they had a private investigator come do a whole investigation, and the investigator came back and told them I had bad character; don’t draft me. And so that’s how I ended up not going to Houston.
Reggie Bush told Edelman
Everything turned out well for Bush, eventually. Even though he failed to replicate the same explosive form in the NFL because of playing in a pass-heavy system, the 39-year-old became an All-Pro in 2008 and won the Super Bowl in 2009. Bush finished his career with 5,490 rushing yards, 3,598 receiving yards, 929 return yards, and 58 touchdowns and was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2019.
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Ishan Misra
(3113 Articles Published)