Drew Brees Bio

The story of how an American football quarterback lifted the spirits of a devastated coastal city is just one of several story lines in the Drew Brees bio. The professional football player is perhaps best known for his time as starting quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, during which he brought the team their first-ever Super Bowl championship in 2009.    

Born in Austin, Texas, on January 15, 1979, Drew Brees saw success from his early football days at Westlake High School in Texas. He earned the Texas High School 5A Most Valuable Offensive Player in 1996 en route to leading his team to the state championship and an opportunity to play college football with the Purdue Boilermakers.    

As a student at Purdue University, Drew Brees gained a number of honors and achievements including two nominations for the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, the Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player Award and two college bowl game MVP awards. Brees left Purdue as the all-time Big Ten leader in passing yards, touchdown passes, offensive yards, completions and passing attempts.      

Brees's football career continued in 2001 when he was selected 32nd overall in the second round of the NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. After making his debut in a single game with the Chargers in 2001, Drew Brees played the better part of the next four years with the team, earning Pro Bowl honors along the way.   

In 2006, the Drew Brees entered what many feel was his prime when he signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints. The first season was a tough one for Brees in the Big Easy as the city was still picking up the pieces from Hurricane Katrina. Drew Brees not only united the devastated city by leading them to their first NFC Championship Game in 2007, but also brought them joy in 2009 when they advanced to and won Super Bowl XLIV, for which he was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player.