They said he could never be great. He was too short, too weak, and prone to injury. He would have a mediocre career in the NFL before retiring into obscurity.
Oh, how Drew Brees proved them wrong.
IN THE BLOOD
Drew Brees was born with athleticism in his blood. Though both his parents worked in law, Brees’ father had previously played college basketball, and his mother was a former all-state in three sports. His uncle had been an All-American quarterback, and his grandfather was legendary high school football coach.
It was this drive for competition that Brees relied on during his difficult early life. His parents divorced when he was seven, resulting in he and his brother Reid being shipped back and forth between houses every week.
He started out playing baseball, basketball, soccer, and tennis – the latter of which saw him become #1 in Texas at age 12. “I know Andy Roddick’s probably tired about me talking about how many times I beat him when we were kids.”
He played flag football until high school, when he finally joined a ‘tackle team’. Brees excelled, and as he approached graduation he looked certain to become an icon of college football.
That was until 11th grade, when Brees sustained a crippling injury to his knee. College recruiters disappeared, but Brees was determined to show them he could not be kept down. At 17, he was named Texas High School Most Valuable Offensive Player, and took his school team to a 16-0 record and the state championship.
He made the USA Today All-USA high school football team, and hoped to follow in the footsteps of senior Brees family members by being picked up by a Texan college, but it was not to be. Still, he had a secret weapon in his arsenal that would keep on the path to greatness:
Faith.
COLLEGE SEASON
Brees only received offers for Purdue and Kentucky universities. He chose the former, and undertook a degree in industrial management.
His first year as a Purdue Boilermaker was rather uneventful, but as a sophomore he received his first start. His natural ability to lead saw him become offensive captain, and the same year he was nominated for the Davey O’Brien Award as one of the nation’s best quarterbacks. The next year, he won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s most outstanding player. Pressure was on for Brees to join the 2000 NFL draft, but he instead elected to stay at college to complete his studies.
When he finally left, Brees held several records in the largest divisional competition in the country. He was the leader in passing yards, touchdown passes, total offensive yards, completions, and pass attempts, and tied for the longest pass ever at an incredible 99 yards – 5/6ths of the total field.
THE BIG LEAGUE
Brees may have proved his determination and excellence over a stellar college career, but concerns over his size and strength saw him overlooked in the first round of the draft. Eventually, the San Diego Chargers signed Brees as the first pick in the second round.
He spent most of his first season on the bench as primary backup for quarterback Doug Flutie. A strong showing in training camp saw him selected as starter for the 2002 season.
It was his chance to shine…but it was not to be. The Chargers had an 8-8 record by the end of the season, and Brees was once again resigned to the bench in 2003.
The following year, San Diego drafted a new quarterback. The fight was on for Brees’ career. He pushed harder than ever in training and pre-season games, and secured his spot as the starter.
Brees lead the team to a 12-4 season, and saw them win the AFC West for the first time in a decade. He was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and had once again proved that he was capable of more than his critics would give him credit for.
That did not stop the scepticism, even as he positioned himself as the 10th best player in the NFL during his 2005 season. So he worked harder and harder.
Then, in the final game of the season, disaster struck. Brees fumbled the ball, and dived to the ground to reclaim it. Suddenly, he was struck by an opposing player, tearing his labrum and damaging his rotator cuff on his throwing arm.
This was it, experts claimed. Brees may never play again, and even if he did, his (already considered) weak arm would be even worse.
While still recovering, the Chargers offered Brees a 5-year contract, with his salary depending heavily on his performance. Perceiving this as a vote of no-confidence from the club he’d restored to glory, Brees decided it was time to move on.
BREES COMES MARCHING IN
Only two teams were willing to risk that Brees’ shoulder would not return to full strength. Soon, there was only one: The New Orleans Saints, and first-year coach Sean Payton.
“I needed New Orleans so badly back in 2006, just somebody to believe in me, somebody to care about me.”
The Saints needed him too, after suffering through a disastrous 2005 season. Unable to play at home due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, they had struggled to a 3-13 record.
But not only was Brees joining a team in turmoil, but as captain, the entire population of New Orleans – still reeling from the storm that had torn their city apart – was looking to him for salvation.
Brees and his wife Brittany moved to the city, and even amongst the destruction fell in love with its soul.
On the field, he lead the Saints to a division title, but did not make the Super Bowl. Playing in the 2007 Pro Bowl, he dislocated his left elbow, but once again overcame.
PATH TO GREATNESS
The Saints may not have made the playoffs in 2008, but the season established Brees as a consistent star of the game. He finished the year as only the second quarterback to ever pass over 5000 yards in a season, coming within 15 yards of the all-time record.
2009 was even better. With an 8-0 record halfway through the season, the Saints had set a franchise record. They would finish 13-3. Brees himself would set an NFL record, with a completed passing percentage of 70.62.
On February 7, 2010, Brees lead the team to a Super Bowl Championship with a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
He was named Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl, Sports Illustrated‘s Sportsman of the Year, and AP Male Athlete of the Year.
“…at the time, it is funny how you can look at something and say, for example with my shoulder injury, when it first happened I said this is the worst thing that could happen to me. Why me, why now? Now I look back and say it was probably the best thing that happened to me.”
ROLE MODEL
Brees found himself thrust suddenly into the position of a national role model, but unlike many athletes, he embraced the position.
For the last decade, he had been heavily involved in charitable endeavours. In 2003, he co-founded the Brees Dream Foundation with his wife in support of cancer patients.
He was also strongly involved in the rebuilding of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. The Brees Dream Foundation partnered with Operation Kids to rebuild academic and athletic facilities across the city.
The same year he won the Super Bowl, President Obama appointed Brees to co-chair of the President’s Council of Fitness, Sports and Nutrition alongside former Olympian gymnast Dominique Dawes, and appeared in anti-bullying video It Gets Better in the wake of an increase in suicides committed by gay teenagers.
BREAKING RECORDS
Though the Saints had mixed results following their Super Bowl win, Brees continued to excel.
He currently holds 20 NFL records, most of which were established after the team’s championship year. They include most consecutive games with at least one touch down pass (54), all-time leader in passing completion, and most seasons with 5000+ passing yards (4).
Brees has also set 25 franchise records at the Saints, and is their all-time best player.
At 37, Drew Brees is now one of the oldest players in the game, but is still going strong. It’s not just Saints fans that look forward to watching him on the field; it’s everyone that respects his drive, passion, and ability to prove his critics wrong time again. How does he do it? One day at a time.
“A good friend of mine once told me that each morning when you wake up, think about winning the day. Don’t worry about a week from now or a month from now – just think about one day at a time. If you are worried about the mountain in the distance, you might trip over the molehill right in front of you. Win the day!”