Drew Brees is a retired former quarterback for the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints. The Purdue QB wound up becoming one of the best players in the NFL over his 20 seasons in the league.
He made NFL history with numerous teams and would become one of the greatest New Orleans Saints in history.
Drew Brees’ Early Life and Career
Brees grew up playing quarterback at West Lake High School in Texas. His play earned him a scholarship to play college football at Purdue. Brees was a standout during his four years at Purdue, twice making third-team All-American and winning Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 2000.
During his collegiate playing career, Brees won like no other quarterback in program history. He set two NCAA records, 13 Big Ten records, and 19 Purdue records. When he left, he led the Big Ten in passing yards, passing touchdowns, attempts, and completions.
Drew Brees at the 2013 Pro Bowl
Drew Brees Net Worth
It is estimated that Drew Brees net worth is roughly $160 million. He makes millions in endorsements and was one of the highest-paid players during his career with the New Orleans Saints. In the final season of his career, Brees earned $25 million as his base salary.
Since retiring, the former quarterback has maintained endorsements with Nike, Microsoft, Dunkin’, Verizon, Wrangler, and other companies. By the time he announced his retirement, Brees was not only the best quarterback in New Orleans Saints history, but one of the highest-paid in the league.
Sources of Income
During his days in the NFL, Brees was paid a top salary in the league. By the end of his career, he was making a $25 million base salary plus bonuses and endorsements. Compared to virtually anyone in the NFL, Brees had more money at the time than most. Since then, quarterbacks are routinely paid in the hundreds of millions for a contract, but Brees continues to make money via endorsement deals and investments.
Philanthropy
Brees and his wife are very active with their Brees Dream Foundation. The foundation supports cancer patients and research in honor of Brittany’s aunt who died of cancer. He has invested in assistance and rebuilding projects in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and gives back to his alma mater as well.
How Tall is Drew Brees?
Size has been a premium at the quarterback position for years. Despite racking up passing yards and touchdowns in college, Drew Brees couldn’t throw past his diminutive height (for the quarterback position). At 6’0”, Drew Brees isn’t the smallest NFL player but NFL teams value size at the position.
Drew Brees Career Stats
A brief look at his career stats and accolades quickly shows why Drew Brees was considered one of the best NFL players for two decades. During his time with the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints, Brees would do all there is to do in the game of football. Check out his key stats, records, and more.
Key Stats
Brees has more than 80,000 passing yards, which was the NFL record until Tom Brady shattered it not long after. Brees played 15 years for the Saints and raised the profile of New Orleans in the process. His 571st touchdown pass was also a record until Brady came along and broke yet another record.
NFL Records
Drew Brees holds four NFL records, all during his time with the New Orleans Saints. He has the most passing touchdowns in a single game (7), the best completion percentage in a single season (74.4%), the most seasons with 5,000 yards (5), and the most consecutive games with a touchdown pass (54).
Stacking Up to Other Legends
NFL players are compared all the time. How does Brees compare to other legends? Though no one holds a candle to Tom Brady, there are few in NFL history with the resume, money, or net worth of Brees. He consistently brought the Saints to the playoffs and even won Super Bowl MVP, endearing him to Saints fans for life.
Best Moments in Saints Career
Drew Brees has had one of the best NFL careers a quarterback could have. During that time, he has had some incredible, memorable moments that no website photo could properly do justice. Here are some of the biggest moments in the New Orleans Saints career of Drew Brees.
Super Bowl XLIV Victory
Without a doubt, the biggest achievement came when Brees led the Saints into Super Bowl XLIV. The once downtrodden franchise won its first (and only) Super Bowl that night, defeating the Indianapolis Colts in a memorable game.
Record-Breaking Games
Brees is also known for setting NFL records. The most memorable record-breaking game came on Nov. 1, 2015, against the New York Giants. In a game the Saints would win 52-49 on a last-second field goal, Brees threw a record-tying seven touchdown passes. He was always known as an accurate passer, but that night made him one of the most dynamic offensive players in NFL history.
Memorable Performances
There are too many to list, but here are some of Drew Brees’ best games and performances as a member of the New Orleans Saints:
- 466 passing yards and 3 touchdowns (2011 NFC Wild Card)
- 325 passing yards and 5 touchdowns (Week 7, 2011)
- 288 passing yards and two touchdowns, winning Super Bowl MVP (Super Bowl XLIV)
- Breaking Johnny Unitas’ NFL record of 48 consecutive games with a touchdown pass (Week 5, 2012)
- 5,208 passing yards (2016)
Post-Retirement Activities
Alongside his wife Brittany, Drew Brees continues to use his career earnings and net worth to make a positive impact on his community. Though he is synonymous with football, Brees continues to have an impact on the sports world as a whole with the money he earned from his NFL career.
Brees and his wife are co-owner of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, further cementing his status as a New Orleans legend. Football fans flock to the restaurant every week to enjoy the great bar and bistro.
Legacy and Impact
Drew Brees will go down not only as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the New Orleans Saints, but the NFL as well and his net worth shows that. His completion rate was like no other and he became a sports star well past the game of football.
The season he signed with the New Orleans Saints, Brees nearly became a member of the Miami Dolphins. Who knows how football would have changed if he went to join the Dolphins instead. The future can change on a whim and the Chargers no doubt missed out on a lot of winning by letting Drew Brees walk away.
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Brees announcing the Saints’ draft pick at the 2010 NFL draft.
