New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has taken to Instagram to announce he will return for the 2020 NFL season:

“My feelings about the 2020 season!” wrote Brees. “I look forward to the grind and the journey, for the reward at the end will be worth it!!! Love you #WhoDatNation. Let’s make another run at it!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8tzQ5NHB7R/

This doesn't come as much of a surprise.

While Brees is 41 years old and was apparently weighing his decision, the general expectation was that the Pro Bowler would come back to the Saints for another year.

Brees missed five games this past season due to a thumb injury, but he was terrific during the time he was on the field for the Saints, throwing for 2,979 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 74.3 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 116.3.

The Austin, Tx. native, who played his collegiate football at Purdue, was originally selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round (32nd pick overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft.

He spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Chargers, making one Pro Bowl appearance before signing with the Saints in 2006.

Since then, Brees has gone on to become one of the best signal-callers in football, earning 12 Pro Bowl selections in New Orleans.

Of course, Brees' shining moment with the Saints came during the 2009 season, when he led the club to a Super Bowl title.

New Orleans has come close several times since its Super Bowl victory a decade ago, but it has suffered numerous heartbreaking playoff losses, most recently falling to the Minnesota Vikings in overtime in the Wild Card Round last month.