Drew Brees
COLLEGE: Purdue
POSITION: Quarterback
BORN: Jan. 15, 1979 in Dallas, Texas
JOINED SAINTS: 2006
YEARS WITH SAINTS: 2006-2020
Drew Brees' career background
Drew Brees was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the first pick in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft out of Purdue University. Brees received his first significant action as a rookie in 2001, took over the Chargers starting job in 2002 and led San Diego to its first playoff berth since the 1995 campaign in 2004, as he was selected to his first of 13 Pro Bowls, voted a consensus NFL Comeback Player of the Year and PFWA George Halas Award (given to an NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed) winner.
After suffering a serious shoulder injury in the last game of the 2005 season, Brees signed with New Orleans and rehabbed ardently from an extensive surgery to prepare for an unforgettable debut in the Crescent City, where he was selected as an Associated Press All-Pro, Pro Bowl starter, led the Saints to the NFC championship game for the first time in franchise history and set the table for a prolonged run of astounding production and consistency.
A season after becoming only the second quarterback in NFL history to reach 5,000 passing yards and capturing the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Brees led New Orleans to the top of the mountain in capturing Super Bowl XLIV as he was named the game's MVP. His heroics on and off the field would earn him the esteemed Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year and AP Male Athlete of the Year honors. Two seasons later, Brees produced one of the most prolific seasons ever as he was named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year for the second time, completing 468-of-657 passes (71.2%) for 5,476 yards with 46 touchdown passes and a 110.6 passer rating, as he set what was then the league's single-season passing yardage mark in leading New Orleans to its second 13-3 campaign in three seasons.
Continuing to be a model of consistency, Brees would eventually transition the franchise to a second period of excellence and in 2018, enjoyed another standout campaign where he set the NFL's single-season record for completion percentage (74.4%), completing 364-of-489 passes for 3,992 yards with 32 touchdowns, only five interceptions and a 115.7 passer rating as he led the Black and Gold to the NFC championship game, becoming the NFL's all-time leader in passing yardage and completions along the way. In what would turn out to be his final campaign under center in 2020, Brees became the first quarterback to surpass 80,000 career passing yards, completing 275-of-390 passes (70.5%) for 2,942 yards with 24 touchdowns, only six interceptions and a 106.4 passer rating in 12 starts. Brees finished the regular season ranked first in fourth quarter passer rating (128.7), second in completion percentage and sixth in passer rating, helping lead the Saints to their fourth consecutive NFC South Division title.
Brees was a two-time Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year, named to 13 Pro Bowls and five Associated Press All-Pro teams, was the 2004 NFL Comeback Player of the Year and the 2006 co-recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. Overall, in his 20-year NFL career, he played in 287 regular season games (286 starts) and completed 7,142-of-10,551 passes (67.7%) for 80,358 yards, 571 touchdown passes and a 98.7 passer rating. He set numerous NFL passing records and retires as the league's all-time leader in passing yardage (80,358), completions (7,142) passing attempts (10,551), ranks second in career completion percentage (67.7%) and touchdown passes (571) and fifth in passer rating (98.7). Brees set marks for touchdown passes in a game (seven, tied with seven other players), completions in a season (471, 2016), completion percentage in a season (74.4%, 2018), completion percentage in a game (96.7%), 300-yard passing games in a season (13, 2011), consecutive games with at least 300 yards passing (nine, twice), most passing yards in a five-game span (1,954), most passing yards in a four-season span (20,767, 2011-14), most passing yards in a five-season span (25,637, 2011-15), most passing yards in a six-season span (30,845, 2011-16), most seasons leading the league in passing yardage (seven), consecutive games with a touchdown pass (54, 2009-12), games with four-plus touchdown passes (37), games with four touchdown passes and zero interceptions (25), games with five-plus touchdown passes (11) consecutive games with at least three touchdown passes and zero interceptions (four, tied with three other players), overall (10) and consecutive (nine) seasons with at least 30 touchdown passes, career 300-yard passing games (123) and career 350-yard passing games (63). The Texas native holds four of the top five most accurate seasons in league history and threw for 5,000 yards an NFL-record five times, a feat no other player has accomplished more than once.
Brees' record as a starter for the Saints is 151-94 (.616) in the regular season and postseason combined, easily making him the winningest signal-caller in franchise history. Posting a 144-85 (.629) record in the regular season and postseason with Payton as his head coach, the Payton-Brees head coach/starting quarterback combination is second in total wins all-time to New England's Bill Belichick-Brady duo (249-75). Brees retires as the holder of virtually every passing record in club record books with his 15 years of service and 228 regular season starts for the Black and Gold, both the highest totals in the team's 54-season history. Since 2006, Brees leads the NFL with 68,010 passing yards, 491 touchdown passes, 8,742 attempts, 6,017 completions, a 68.8 completion percentage, 116 games with at least 300 yards passing, 16 with at least 400 and 518 completions of 25 yards or more.
Brees has been a community fixture in the Gulf South with his Brees Dream Foundation, expanding on its initial mission to improve the quality of life of cancer patients and provide care, education and opportunities for children facing adversity to committing to enhance the lives of all people. He has also been a regular participant in important charitable and social justice causes initiated by the Saints. In New Orleans, his ongoing efforts in support of the community have raised millions of dollars for numerous organizations, important causes and individuals in need. In 2020 alone, the foundation donated over $10 million to relief efforts throughout Louisiana related to Covid-19, partnering with regional organizations throughout Louisiana to provide meals to those in need and to construct heath care centers in underserved communities. The grandson of a World War II veteran, Brees has proudly participated in several USO tours. In addition to being selected as the co-recipient of the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2006, Brees was selected as the 2007 PFWA Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award winner and has also received numerous regional honors for his important community efforts.
Brees' college career
Brees played college football from 1997-2000 for the Purdue Boilermakers and took hold of many Purdue and Big Ten passing records. In his senior year in 2000, he won the Maxwell award as the nation's most outstanding player and lead the Boilermakers to their first Rose Bowl in 34 years. Brees also won Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1998 and 2000 and was a two-time Heisman finalist.
Drew Brees' career honors
Super Bowl Champion (Super Bowl XLIV)
Super Bowl XLIV Most Valuable Player
AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year - 2008, 2011
AP All-Pro - 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2018
Pro Bowl - 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Quarterback of the Year (NFL Alumni) - 2006, 2009
FedEx Air Player of the Year - 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame - 2024
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame - 2024
Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award - 2018
Bart Starr Award - 2011
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year - 2010
AP Male Athlete of the Year - 2010
Bert Bell Award (Maxwell Club NFL Player of the Year) - 2009
PFWA Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award - 2007
PFWA George Halas Award - 2007
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year - 2006 (co-recipient)
NFL Comeback Player of the Year - 2004
PFWA George Halas Award - 2004
Maxwell Award - 2000 (Purdue)
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year - 2000 (Purdue)
Big Ten Medal of Honor - 2001 (Purdue)
