History of Drew Brees in Timeline
Drew Brees is a former American football quarterback, playing 20 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the New Orleans Saints. He ranks among the top quarterbacks of all time, holding numerous records. Notably, he is second all-time in career passing yards and touchdown passes. Brees also held a record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass (54). He is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
1967: Purdue Big Ten Championship
In 2000, Drew Brees led the Purdue Boilermakers to their first Big Ten championship since 1967.
1972: Marty Akins at Texas Longhorns
From 1972 to 1975, Drew Brees's maternal uncle, Marty Akins, was an All-American starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns college football team.
1975: Marty Akins at Texas Longhorns
From 1972 to 1975, Drew Brees's maternal uncle, Marty Akins, was an All-American starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns college football team.
1980: Highest Spot Since 1980 Season
In 2000, Drew Brees helped lead Purdue to a #9 ranking in the AP Poll, the program's highest spot since the 1980 season.
1981: Birth of Reid Brees
In 1981, Drew Brees's younger brother, Reid, was born.
1982: Brees's Passing Yards Compared to Dan Fouts's Record
In 1982, Dan Fouts set a record of 320.3 yards passing per game in a strike-shortened season, which Drew Brees later broke by averaging 342.25 yards passing per game.
1989: Academic All-America honors
In 2000, As a senior, Drew Brees became the first Boilermaker since Bruce Brineman in 1989 to earn Academic All-America honors.
1996: State Championship
In 1996, Drew Brees led the Austin Westlake High School football team to a 16-0 record and a state championship. He was also selected as Texas High School 5A Most Valuable Offensive Player
1998: NCAA Record
In the 1998 season, in a game against Wisconsin, Drew Brees tied an NCAA single-game record with 55 completions and set the NCAA record for pass attempts in a single game with 83.
September 25, 1999: Tied NCAA Record
On September 25, 1999, Drew Brees tied an NCAA record with a 99-yard pass to receiver Vinny Sutherland against Northwestern.
1999: Davey O'Brien Award Finalist
In 1999, Drew Brees was a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback.
2000: Big Ten Championship
In 2000, Drew Brees led the Purdue Boilermakers to their first Big Ten championship since 1967.
2000: Maxwell Award
In 2000, Drew Brees won the Maxwell Award as the nation's outstanding player.
November 4, 2001: First Professional Game
On November 4, 2001, Drew Brees played in his first professional game against the Kansas City Chiefs, relieving Doug Flutie due to a concussion. He passed for 221 yards and a touchdown.
2001: Graduation from Purdue
In 2001, Drew Brees graduated from Purdue University with a degree in industrial management.
2001: Rose Bowl Appearance
In 2001, Drew Brees led Purdue to the Rose Bowl, the school's first appearance there since 1967.
2001: NFL Draft Selection
In 2001, Drew Brees was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers.
2001: NCAA's Today's Top VIII Award
In 2001, Drew Brees won the NCAA's Today's Top VIII Award.
August 19, 2002: Named Starter for the Chargers
On August 19, 2002, Drew Brees was named the starting quarterback for the San Diego Chargers for the 2002 season, taking over from Doug Flutie.
February 2003: Marriage to Brittany Dudchenko
In February 2003, Drew Brees married his college sweetheart, Brittany Dudchenko.
2003: Establishment of Brees Dream Foundation
In 2003, Drew Brees and his wife Brittany founded the Brees Dream Foundation to support cancer patients and research and also assist Hurricane Katrina rebuilding projects.
2003: Touchdown Reception
In 2003, Drew Brees recorded a 21-yard touchdown reception on a pass thrown by LaDainian Tomlinson in the game against the Oakland Raiders.
2004: Franchise Player Designation
After the 2004 season, the Chargers designated Drew Brees as a franchise player, offering him a one-year contract.
2004: Breakout Season and Honors
In 2004, Drew Brees had a breakout season with the San Diego Chargers, earning him Pro Bowl and Comeback Player of the Year honors.
2004: AFC Offensive Player
In 2004, Drew Brees was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Brees posted spectacular numbers, completing 65.5% of his passes for 3,159 yards, with 27 touchdowns to only seven interceptions, giving him a 104.8 passer rating.
2004: Quarterback Controversy
In 2004, after the Chargers acquired Philip Rivers, Drew Brees performed well through training camp, guaranteeing him the starting job.
2005: Continued as Starting Quarterback
In 2005, Drew Brees continued as the starting quarterback for the Chargers under the terms of the franchise player contract.
2005: Shoulder Injury and Faith
In 2005, Drew Brees tore the labrum in his shoulder which he maintained strengthened his relationship with God.
2005: Reid Brees in College World Series
In 2005, Drew Brees's younger brother, Reid, was an outfielder for the Baylor Bears baseball team, which made the College World Series.
January 5, 2006: Shoulder Surgery
On January 5, 2006, Drew Brees underwent arthroscopic surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews to repair a torn labrum in his right (throwing) shoulder. Subsequent reports mentioned additional partial rotator cuff damage, and he was also treated by Dr. Saby Szajowitz to recover and regain muscle movement.
March 14, 2006: Signed with the Saints
On March 14, 2006, Drew Brees signed a six-year, $60 million deal with the New Orleans Saints after the Miami Dolphins decided not to sign him due to concerns about his shoulder injury. The Dolphins traded for Daunte Culpepper instead. Nick Saban resigned from the Dolphins and left to coach for Alabama Crimson Tide because the Dolphins didn't sign Brees.
2006: Estrangement from mother
In 2006, Brees described his relationship with his mother as "nonexistent" due to professional disagreements.
2006: Joining the Saints
In 2006, Drew Brees joined the New Orleans Saints, bringing new success to the franchise.
January 5, 2007: Awards and Recognition
On January 5, 2007, Drew Brees was named first runner-up behind LaDainian Tomlinson for league MVP by the Associated Press. Brees and Tomlinson were co-recipients of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
January 13, 2007: First Playoff Game for New Orleans
On January 13, 2007, in his first playoff game for New Orleans against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round, Drew Brees completed 20 of 32 passing attempts with one touchdown and no interceptions, leading the Saints to a 27-24 victory. They advanced to the NFC Championship Game. Brees dislocated his left elbow during the first quarter of the Pro Bowl.
February 18, 2007: Grand Marshal of Bacchus Parade
On February 18, 2007, Drew Brees was honored as the 2007 Grand Marshal of the Bacchus parade, a New Orleans Mardi Gras organization.
2007: Partnership with Operation Kids
In 2007, Drew and Brittany Brees Dream Foundation partnered with Operation Kids to rebuild academic and athletic facilities in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
February 2008: Promotional Deal with Chili's
In February 2008, Drew Brees signed a promotional deal with Chili's Grill & Bar to promote their new line of hamburgers, which also helped raise money for charity.
June 2008: Pro Sports Team Challenge
In June 2008, Drew Brees participated in the Pro Sports Team Challenge to raise money for Operation Kids charity.
January 2009: Birth of First Son
In January 2009, Drew Brees and his wife Brittany welcomed their first son.
June 2009: Visit to Guantanamo Bay
In late June 2009, Drew Brees visited the Guantanamo Bay detention camp as part of a USO tour and stated that captives were being treated well.
August 7, 2009: Death of Mina Brees
On August 7, 2009, Drew Brees's mother, Mina Brees, passed away at the age of 59 from a prescription drug overdose.
2009: Induction into Purdue's Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame
In 2009, Drew Brees was inducted into Purdue's Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.
2009: Death of Mina Ruth Brees
In 2009, Drew Brees' mother, Mina Ruth, passed away.
2009: Saints' Super Bowl Winning Season
The Saints advanced to their first NFC Championship Game since their 2009 Super Bowl winning season.
February 7, 2010: Super Bowl XLIV Victory
On February 7, 2010, the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV. Drew Brees tied a Super Bowl record with 32 pass completions and won the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award. He threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns. It was the first league championship in Saints franchise history.
February 14, 2010: Bacchus XLII
On February 14, 2010, Drew Brees presided as Bacchus XLII for the 2010 Bacchus parade during Mardi Gras season.
March 30, 2010: Spokesperson for AdvoCare International
On March 30, 2010, Drew Brees became the national spokesperson for AdvoCare International, a multi-level marketing company.
April 2010: Madden NFL 11 Cover Athlete
In April 2010, Drew Brees was voted by fans as the cover athlete of EA Sports Madden NFL 11 video game.
June 2010: Appointment to President's Council
In June 2010, President Obama appointed Drew Brees as co-chair of the newly renamed President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
July 6, 2010: Release of "Coming Back Stronger"
On July 6, 2010, Drew Brees released his first book, "Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity", co-authored by Chris Fabry.
October 2010: Birth of Second Son
In October 2010, Drew Brees and his wife Brittany welcomed their second son.
October 2010: It Gets Better Video
In October 2010, Drew Brees appeared in an It Gets Better video, delivering an anti-bullying message following suicides by gay teenagers.
December 17, 2010: AP Male Athlete of the Year
On December 17, 2010, Drew Brees was named AP Male Athlete of the Year.
2010: Appearance on Entourage
In 2010, Drew Brees appeared in the Season 7 finale of the TV show Entourage.
2010: Big Ten Icons
In 2010, Drew Brees was ranked number 48 on the documentary Big Ten Icons, featuring the conference's top fifty student-athletes.
2010: Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
In 2010, Drew Brees was selected as Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year for his leadership in the Saints' Super Bowl victory and his contributions to the rebirth of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
2011: Brees's Completion Record
In 2011, Drew Brees set a then-NFL record of 468 completions.
2011: Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year Award
In 2011, The Big Ten Conference's Griese–Brees Quarterback of the Year award was named in his and Bob Griese's honor.
August 2012: Birth of Third Son
In August 2012, Drew Brees and his wife Brittany welcomed their third son.
2012: Sale of San Diego Home
In 2012, Drew Brees sold his home in San Diego, keeping his residence in New Orleans.
2012: Brees's Season Performance and Records
In 2012, Drew Brees threw a career-high five interceptions against the Atlanta Falcons, ending his touchdown streak. He surpassed Peyton Manning's record with his seventh straight 4,000-yard passing season. Brees finished the season with 5,177 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, despite the Saints missing the playoffs.
2012: Brees Ranked Second-Best Player
In 2012, Drew Brees was ranked as the second-best player in the league by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012.
2012: Sean Payton's Suspension and Interim Coaches
In 2012, due to Sean Payton's suspension, Aaron Kromer served as the Saints' temporary head coach for the first six games, followed by Joe Vitt taking over head coaching responsibilities after Week 8.
October 2013: NCAA Record Broken
In October 2013, Drew Brees's NCAA record for pass attempts in a game (83) was broken by Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday.
2013: Successful Season with Multiple Achievements
In 2013, Drew Brees and the Saints started the season 5-0, with Brees earning multiple Offensive Player of the Week awards. He passed Warren Moon on the career passing yards list and reached the 50,000-yard club. Brees was named to his eighth Pro Bowl, and the Saints finished 11-5, losing in the Divisional Round.
2013: Brees Selected to the Pro Bowl
In 2013, Drew Brees was selected to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for Robert Griffin III and was ranked 11th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2013.
2013: Peyton Manning Breaks Brees's Record
In 2013, Peyton Manning surpassed Drew Brees's record by one passing yard, ending the season with an NFL-record 5,477 passing yards and averaging 342.31 yards per game.
2013: Saints Return to Playoffs
The Saints returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 2013 season.
August 2014: Birth of Daughter
In August 2014, Drew Brees and his wife Brittany welcomed their daughter.
2014: Frustrating Season with Record Achievements
Drew Brees described the 2014 season as his "most frustrating", despite moving into fourth place in career passing yardage and becoming the NFL's all-time leader in completion percentage. He earned an Offensive Player of the Week award and extended his streak to seven straight seasons with at least 30 touchdown passes and nine straight seasons of 4,000 passing yards. The Saints finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs.
2014: Brees Ranked Sixth by Peers
In 2014, Drew Brees was ranked sixth by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players.
2014: Clarification about Drew Pearson Naming
In a 2014 interview, Drew Brees stated that the story of him being named after Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson was "just legend".
May 2015: Stake in Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar
In May 2015, Drew Brees purchased a 25% stake in Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar, a sports bar chain.
October 4, 2015: Brees's Overtime Touchdown and 400th Career Touchdown
On October 4, 2015, Drew Brees threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Spiller in overtime, securing a 26-20 victory for the Saints over the Dallas Cowboys. This was Brees's 400th career touchdown, making him the fifth and fastest player in NFL history to reach this milestone. He also completed his 5,000th pass with a touchdown to Josh Hill, marking the quickest regular-season overtime win in NFL history at 13 seconds.
November 1, 2015: Brees Ties NFL Record with Seven Touchdown Passes
On November 1, 2015, Drew Brees tied the NFL record for touchdown passes in a single game with seven during a 52-49 Saints' victory over the New York Giants. He completed 39-of-50 passes for 505 yards, recording his second career game with at least 500 passing yards and earning him the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
2015: Brees Ranked 30th by Peers
In 2015, Drew Brees was ranked 30th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players.
2016: Record-Breaking Season and Pro Bowl Selection
Drew Brees led the league in passing yards with 5,208 in 2016, setting a new NFL record of 471 completions. Despite his performance, the Saints finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs. Brees was named to his tenth career Pro Bowl. He was later ranked 16th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.
2016: Opinion on National Anthem Kneeling
In 2016, Brees expressed his opinion that kneeling during the national anthem was disrespectful.
2016: Brees's Records and Team Struggles
In 2016, Drew Brees's streak of 45 consecutive games with a touchdown pass ended. He surpassed Dan Marino for fourth in career touchdown passes and reached the 60,000-yard milestone, achieving his 10th straight 4,000-yard season. Despite these achievements, the Saints finished with a 7-9 record and missed the playoffs. He was ranked 30th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.
2016: Brees Throws Career-High Touchdown Pass
In the Saints' 2016 season opener, Drew Brees threw a career-high 98-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks. He finished the game with 423 passing yards and four touchdown passes, tying him with Peyton Manning for the most 400-yard passing games in NFL history.
December 19, 2017: Brees Named to 11th Career Pro Bowl
On December 19, 2017, Drew Brees was named to his 11th career Pro Bowl.
2017: Saints Division Titles
From 2017 to 2020, Drew Brees led the New Orleans Saints to four consecutive division titles.
2017: Brees Sets NFL Record for Completion Percentage
In 2017, Drew Brees set an NFL record for completion percentage (74.4%), breaking his previous record set in 2017. His streak of 12 consecutive seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards ended. He led the league in six fourth-quarter comebacks and seven game-winning drives.
2017: Brees Ranked 16th by Peers
In 2017, Drew Brees was ranked 16th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players.
March 13, 2018: Brees Signs Contract Extension
On March 13, 2018, Drew Brees signed a two-year, $50 million contract extension with the Saints.
April 2018: Lawsuit Against Jeweler
In April 2018, Drew Brees filed a lawsuit against a San Diego jeweler, claiming he and his wife paid $15 million for investment-grade diamonds valued at only $6 million.
2018: Brees Ranked Eighth by Peers
In 2018, Drew Brees was ranked eighth by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players.
2018: Award Renamed in Honor of Alan Page
In the fall of 2018, the Byron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award, previously named after Byron "Whizzer" White, was renamed in honor of Alan Page.
March 2019: Partnership with Walk-On's
In March 2019, Drew Brees partnered with Brandon Landry, co-founder of Walk-On's, to launch a new restaurant.
June 21, 2019: $6 Million Award in Lawsuit
On June 21, 2019, Drew Brees was awarded $6 million in the lawsuit against a San Diego jeweler.
August 2019: Jimmy John's Franchise Expansion
As of August 2019, Drew Brees owns nine Jimmy John's stores with a tenth under construction, drawing on lessons learned from Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar.
2019: 2019 NFL Season Summary
During the 2019 NFL season, Drew Brees played in 11 games, finishing with 2,979 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He also achieved a completion percentage of 74.34% and set a record for most matchups against a starting quarterback in the Super Bowl era.
2019: Brees Finishes Second in MVP Voting
In 2019, Drew Brees finished second in the MVP voting to Patrick Mahomes and was ranked as the second-best player in the NFL by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players.
2019: Partnership with San Diego Surf Sports
In 2019, Drew Brees partnered with San Diego Surf Sports to help with the local youth sports scene in the San Diego area.
March 17, 2020: Contract Extension with the Saints
On March 17, 2020, Drew Brees signed a two-year, $50 million contract extension with the New Orleans Saints.
June 3, 2020: Controversial Statement on National Anthem Kneeling
On June 3, 2020, during the George Floyd protests, Drew Brees reiterated his 2016 opinion that kneeling during the national anthem was disrespectful, which led to criticism and a subsequent apology.
July 2020: $5 Million Donation to Ochsner Health System
In July 2020, Drew Brees and his wife, Brittany, donated $5 million through the Brees Dream Foundation to Ochsner Health System to build healthcare centers in Louisiana.
November 15, 2020: Rib Injury against 49ers
On November 15, 2020, Drew Brees left the Saints’ game against the San Francisco 49ers with a rib injury.
November 20, 2020: Placed on Injured Reserve
On November 20, 2020, Drew Brees was placed on injured reserve, ruling him out for at least three games due to multiple broken ribs and a collapsed lung.
December 19, 2020: Activation and Passing Record
On December 19, 2020, Drew Brees was activated after missing four games, and during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs, he surpassed Anthony Calvillo for first place in career passing yards in any professional outdoor gridiron football league.
2020: Retirement from NFL
After the 2020 season, Drew Brees retired from the NFL after 15 seasons in New Orleans.
2020: Saints Division Titles
From 2017 to 2020, Drew Brees led the New Orleans Saints to four consecutive division titles.
2020: NFL Top 100 Ranking and Pro Bowl Nomination
In 2020, Drew Brees was ranked 12th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list and earned his 13th career Pro Bowl nomination.
February 6, 2021: Contract Renegotiation
On February 6, 2021, the Saints renegotiated Drew Brees' contract, reducing his salary to $1.075 million.
March 14, 2021: Retirement Announcement
On March 14, 2021, Drew Brees announced his retirement after twenty seasons in the NFL.
June 11, 2021: Placed on Reserve/Retired List
On June 11, 2021, the Saints placed Drew Brees on their reserve/retired list.
2021: Hired by NBC Sports
In 2021, Drew Brees was hired by NBC Sports to serve as a color analyst for Notre Dame games and on Football Night in America.
May 15, 2022: Departure from NBC Sports
On May 15, 2022, Drew Brees left NBC Sports after one season.
2022: Interim Assistant Coach at Purdue
In 2022, Drew Brees served as an interim assistant football coach with Purdue.
2023: Right Arm Limitations
In 2023, Drew Brees revealed he could no longer lift his right arm over his shoulder due to a past injury from his time with the Chargers.
September 2025: Joins ESPN's First Take
In September 2025, Drew Brees signed with ESPN's First Take as a weekly contributor.
November 2025: Hired by Fox as NFL Game Analyst
In November 2025, Fox hired Drew Brees to be an NFL game analyst.
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