Drew Brees: Career retrospective

Drew Brees: Career retrospective

When NFL legend Drew Brees suffered an injury on his throwing shoulder during the 2005 NFL season, it felt like his career was over. Just four years later, the overlooked quarterback led the New Orleans Saints to their first-ever Super Bowl victory on the field and helped the city make a comeback from Hurricane Katrina off it. Let’s look at the career of Drew Brees, one of the greatest stories in NFL history.

 in impressive victories over Ohio State and Michigan. He won the Maxwell Award and marched the Boilermakers to the Rose Bowl in his sensational senior year. Brees held every Purdue football passing record when he graduated.

Brees Dream Foundation and other acts of philanthropy. 

Brees was named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2006. The prestigious award is given to a player who does good on and off the field. One of the most deserving candidates to ever receive the award, Brees continues to help those in need after retiring in 2020.

Super Bowl hero Tracy Porter’s pick-six against NFL legend Peyton Manning. Brees showed up to the occasion, passing for 288 yards and two touchdowns and bringing home Super Bowl MVP. 

New Orleans is guaranteed a parade every February: Mardi Gras. Thanks to the Saints, there’d be a party all February in the Big Easy.

Marshawn Lynch’s Beast Quake run in the first round of the playoffs. While the upset victory stung, the Saints still had a lot of playoff football left in them in the years to come.

The Catch III. 

Brees won Offensive Player of the Year in 2011. Despite his record-breaking season, he finished second in MVP votes, losing the honor to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

per The Guardian. While they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the next round, the 2013 Saints made franchise history. 

Fun fact: The Eagles starting quarterback for that playoff game was Nick Foles. The Super Bowl LII MVP has posted an 0-2 playoff record against fellow Westlake alum Drew Brees. It seems his kryptonite is Brees.

an all-time great duel with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning in 2015.

The Minneapolis Miracle. The blown defensive coverage sent the Saints packing during a season where a second Super Bowl ring seemed likely.

The call that never was became a big reason why the Saints lost the game and never went to a second Super Bowl. It’s the worst missed call in NFL history.

A highlight reel that goes on for hours. When it’s all said and done, Brees will live in NFL immortality in the halls of Canton, where he belongs.

David J. Hunt is a freelance writer based out of Philadelphia. He ran cross country at Penn State, became a volunteer firefighter during COVID-19, and is a self taught journalist. He’s a diehard Philly sports fan. When he isn’t watching sports, he enjoys working out, fishing, and traveling. You can find more of his writing at The Chestnut Hill Local and The Temple News. You can follow him on Twitter at @dave_hunt44.

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