Drew Brees

Football superstar Drew Brees played quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) for most of his career after playing collegiate football at Purdue. Brees was initially drafted by the San Diego Chargers (now Los Angeles Chargers) but established himself as a star quarterback with the New Orleans Saints. Brees is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks to have graced the game when he retired in 2020. He has topped all NFL quarterbacks in touchdowns, passing yards, and 300-yard games. He has earned Pro Bowl 13 times, and set all-time records in passing yards (78,422) and touchdowns (555). Brees has led the NFL in TD passes four times and passing yards seven times. He spent the 2021 season as an analyst on NBC Sunday Night Football. In 2022, he returned to Purdue as an interim assistant football coach.

Drew Brees’ Early Life and Background

Drew Christopher Brees was born in Dallas on January 15, 1979, to lawyers Eugene Wilson "Chip" Brees II and Mina Ruth. Reid is his younger brother (born in 1981).

When Brees was seven years old, his parents were divorced and decided to split custody of the boys, who now live with both of their parents. After relocating to the Austin region, Brees did not begin playing tackle football until high school. Prior to that, he played flag football at St. Andrew's Episcopal School alongside actor Ben McKenzie, who was a classmate. He had varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball in high school and was thinking about playing baseball in college rather than football. He was chosen as Texas High School 5A Most Valuable Offensive Player in 1996 after recovering from an ACL injury, and he helped the Austin Westlake High School football team to a 16-0 record and a state title. Brees completed 314 of 490 passes while playing high school football, good for 5,461 yards and 50 touchdowns. During his senior year, he also completed 211 of 333 throws, good for 3,528 yards and 31 touchdowns. Westlake won 28-0-1 and defeated Dominic Rhodes-led Abilene Cooper 55-15 in the 1996 championship game when Brees started for two seasons.

Despite Brees' success as a high school quarterback, universities didn't actively pursue him.

Only Purdue and Kentucky were interested, and he decided on the latter because of their academic standing. Drew didn't make his debut until his second year of college when offensive captain-coach Joe Tiller introduced him to the unconventional spread offense system known as "basketball on grass." In the collegiate world, Purdue was the underdog, but Brees inspired them to multiple thrilling upset victories against much better teams. Drew had four interceptions and threw the game-winning, 64-yard touchdown throw in a last-second triumph over Ohio State, which stands out as one remarkable instance. By the end of his college football career, Brees had gained a great deal of recognition and had broken a lot of records. Brees earned an industrial management degree from Purdue in 2001.

Drew Brees NFL Draft

Brees's success in college led to predictions that he would be selected in the mid-late first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, but he fell because of doubts about his professional quarterback stature (6'), a perception of his lack of arm strength, and the fact that he had thrived in college in a spread offense. Following Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick, Brees was chosen second overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. The San Diego Chargers selected him with the first selection of the second round, 32nd overall. The top choice in that draft was originally owned by San Diego, but it was traded to the Atlanta Falcons.

Drew Brees’ NFL Journey

Brees' first season was limited by the fact that he was the second-string quarterback to Doug Flutie.

However, Flutie's concussion ultimately gave him his chance. Brees, who took over as the starter's replacement, amassed over 200 throwing yards and his first touchdown. He took over Flutie's position as the starting quarterback by 2002. But after some disappointing performances, the Chargers decided to change their mind and reinstate Flutie as the starter. In 2003, Brees took over for Flutie once more. Phillip Rivers was the Chargers' new quarterback before the 2004 campaign. Against Rivers, Brees defended his role as the starting quarterback.

In fact, Drew had his finest season to date in 2004, recording a 65.5% passing completion percentage and a 104.8 passer rating. The Chargers also won the American Football Conference's Western Division during that season for the first time in 10 years.

Despite this, Brees was anticipated to leave since the Chargers significantly invested in Phillip Rivers as their primary future quarterback. Brees played for the Chargers for one more season as a franchise player after not being traded as anticipated. Drew had a successful season up until his right shoulder's labrum was torn in the final game. Considering that this was his throwing shoulder, serious questions were raised. He then underwent arthroscopic surgery to fix his shoulder.

Bree signed with the one team that wasn't deterred by his recent injury, the New Orleans Saints after the Chargers declined to enhance his compensation in a new, five-year contract.

In the end, Drew Brees’ injury had no discernible impact on him. During his first two seasons with the Saints, he led the league in passing yards, and in 2008, he became only the second NFL player in history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single year. He was voted Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 2010 after collecting several honors and guiding the Saints to their first Super Bowl victory. Brees earned the coveted "triple crown" in 2011 by dominating the league in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completion %. With 5,084 throwing yards in that season, he also shattered the NFL record for the most passing yards in a season.

Brees was successful, but the Saints struggled to keep up their form, tumbling from 2014 to 2016. After missing the playoffs in 2013, they made a comeback in 2017. Over the following several years, Brees and the Saints continued to build a strong record, and in 2018, they lost a contentious playoff game to the Los Angeles Rams after a penalty was not called. Brees missed 8 weeks of the 2019 season because of a damaged ligament in his hand.

On March 17, 2020, Brees signed a two-year, $50 million contract extension with the Saints. On November 15, 2020, Brees left the Saints’ Week 10 game against the San Francisco 49ers following the first half with a rib injury suffered on a sack attempt from Kentavius Street. On November 20, 2020, Brees was placed on injured reserve, thereby ruling him out for at least the following three games. Brees was activated on December 19, 2020, after he had missed out on four games. The Saints renegotiated Brees’ contract in 2021 after they finished the 2020 NFL season (defeated in the Divisional Round of the Playoffs). On March 15, 2021, Drew Brees announced his retirement from the NFL after a 20-season career.

Drew Brees’ Teams

San Diego Chargers (2001-2005)

Drew Brees was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 2001 NFL Draft as the first pick of the second round and the overall 32nd pick of the Draft. Brees served as Doug Flutie's backup in his debut season, which saw Flutie start all 16 games. On November 4, 2001, during Week 8, Brees participated in his debut game as a professional against the Kansas City Chiefs. He entered the contest to replace Flutie, who was out due to a concussion. Brees played in just one game as a rookie, a contest against the Chiefs. He was chosen for the 2004 Pro Bowl and the San Diego Chargers won the AFC West for the first time in ten seasons. He received the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2004. For the 2005 campaign, Drew stayed the starting quarterback. He recorded 3576 throwing yards, a career high. He tore his labrum in the final game of the season which made the Chargers reconsider offering him a sizable contract extension.

New Orleans Saints (2006-2020)

Drew began searching for other clubs after the 2005 season because he was dissatisfied with the San Diego Chargers' offer. He agreed to a six-year, $60 million contract with the New Orleans Saints on March 14th, 2006. With 5476 passing yards and a career-high 46 touchdowns in 2011, he set an NFL record. In Super Bowl XLIV, which took place on February 7, 2010, the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17. Drew was named the Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl. He threw for 288 yards and also made 2 touchdown passes in the Super Bowl. He received the Sportsman of the Year award from Sports Illustrated in 2010.

Drew kept setting new marks for the following ten years. He broke the NFL completions and passing yardage records in 2018. He also had a personal best completion rate of 74.4%, earning him a spot in the Pro Bowl for the 12th time. He agreed to a two-year, $50 million deal extension with the New Orleans Saints that will begin in 2020. The Saints restructured Brees' deal in 2021 to free up salary cap space, bringing his pay down to $1.075 million for the following campaign.

Brees announced his retirement after 20 seasons on March 14, 2021, fifteen years after inking his first deal with the New Orleans Saints. The New Orleans Saints put him on the reserve/retired list on June 11, 2021.

Drew Brees Awards and Honors

Awards

Drew Brees Records

National Football League records

• Most seasons as passing yards leader: 7

• Most passing touchdowns, single game (7) (tied with 7 others)

• Best pass completion percentage, single season (74.4% in 2018)

• Highest career completion percentage (67.7%)

New Orleans Saints franchise records

• Passing yards, career (68,010)

• Passing yards, single game (510)

• Passing touchdowns, career (491)

• Pass completions, career (6,017)

• Pass completions, single game (39) - Brees accomplished 39 completions in four total games

• Pass attempts, career (8,742)

• Pass attempts, single game (60)

• Passing yards, single season (5,476) (2011)

• Passing touchdowns, single season (46) (2011)

• Pass completions, single season (471) (2016)

• Pass attempts, single season (673) (2016)

• Longest pass-play, (98 yards) (2016)

• Completion percentage, single season (74.4%)

• Completion percentage, career (67.7%)

Drew Brees's Super Bowl wins

In Super Bowl XLIV, Brees' lone Super Bowl victory, he made his first-ever Super Bowl appearance (in 2010). The Saints advanced to the Super Bowls by defeating the Minnesota Vikings (31-28) in only their second NFC Championship game under Drew Brees' leadership.

The 2009 MVP of the season, Peyton Manning, who was playing for the Indianapolis Colts, faced Drew Brees. Brees threw two touchdown passes in the game, which concluded 31-17.

For his efforts, he was named the MVP of Super Bowl XLIV.

Read more about Drew Brees’s Super Bowl wins here

Drew Brees's Net Worth

Drew Brees has amassed a net worth of $160 million. He earned a considerable amount of his wealth through his NFL earnings. He is one of the richest athletes in the world as per Forbes. Brees has also added to his net worth through various endorsement deals and it is said that he earns around $13,000 for every sponsored tweet.

Get an in depth look into Drew Brees’s Net Worth, here

Drew Brees Contract

Brees signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Chargers in 2005. He joined the Saints in 2006 for a 6-year, $60 million contract that also included roughly $22 million in incentives. Since 2006, he has secured many contracts, including a five-year, $100 million contract (the most amount of guaranteed money in NFL history at the time).

Drew Brees last signed an NFL contract with the New Orleans Saints. On March 17, 2020, Drew Brees signed a two year contract worth $50 million to keep him with the Saints through the 2021 season. As part of that contract, Brees received a $23 million signing bonus. The Saints included two “void” years at the end of Brees’ deal. This allowed the Saints to spread that $23 million signing bonus across four years on their cap.

Read more about Drew Brees’ Contract history here.

Drew Brees Family

Drew was born on 15 January 1979 in Austin, Texas, U.S. He is the eldest child of Eugene Wilson “Chip” Brees II, a prominent trial lawyer, and Mina Ruth, an attorney. Drew Brees also has a younger brother called Reid Brees.

Drew hails from a family of avid athletes. His mother was a previous all-state performer in three sports in high school, while his father played basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team. One of the greatest high school football coaches in Texas history is his maternal grandfather Ray Akins, and his uncle Marty Akins was an All-Southwest Conference quarterback in 1975. His brother Reid played outfield for the Baylor baseball Bears. Additionally, his grandpa took part in the battle of Okinawa.

When he was seven years old, his parents were divorced and the kids were split between them.

Even while it was challenging for Drew and his brother, the whole thing brought the boys closer. Owing to their father's second marriage to Amy Hightower, the late U.S. Representative Jack English Hightower's daughter, they have a half-sister called Audrey.

Drew Brees's Wife

Drew Brees has been married to his wife Brittany Brees since 2003. The two attended Purdue University together and started dating months after getting to know each other. The couple has been happily married for almost twenty years now.

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Drew Brees Children

Drew Brees and Brittany Brees share four children. In 2009, the couple welcomed their first son Baylen Robert Brees. The following year in October, Brittany gave birth to their second son Bowen Cristopher Brees. In August of 2021, the couple had their third son Callen Christian Bree. Their youngest child is their daughter Rylen Judith Brees, born in August 2014. Drew and Brittany gave birth and raised their four beautiful kids in New Orleans.