Thank You Drew Brees
Brees celebrated a score in his home sweet Dome. (Derrick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports)
I still remember that first day, it was Christmas day and my dad had scored big time and gifted me a Playstation 3, Madden 11 to boot. Drew Brees was on the cover and nothing was the same. I can still hear the second-best intro in madden history as Brees hyped up the team and the recordings of his voice faded in and out with his voiceover. I was instantly hooked. From 49ers heartbreak to Minnesota heartbreak he was always my quarterback. If not for that day, who knows if I would be in the position I am in today.
Brees was born and raised in Texas, had divorced parents like myself, and didn't even begin his tackle football career until high school at Westlake High School; A public school in Austin. He was a varsity athlete in baseball, basketball and football. For a while, he considered playing college baseball but was swayed at a certain point to stick to football, and thank goodness he did. Brees would go 28-0-1 during his time starting as a quarterback in high school, including a state championship in his senior year after overcoming an ACL tear suffered a year prior.
Though he threw for 50 touchdowns and 5000 plus yards during this time, he only received two college offers, one from Purdue, the other from Kentucky It was Brees’ dream to play in state at Texas or Texas A&M, these two schools never made an offer, and Brees picked Purdue.
During his sophomore season, Brees earned the starting job and became a key cog in the Head Coach’s “basketball on grass” scheme. Brees would go on to play through his junior and senior seasons setting records and recording notable last-minute upsets of Ohio State and Michigan leading to Purdue winning their first Big 10 championship since 1967. Due to tiebreakers against Michigan and Northwestern, Purdue advanced to the Rose Bowl where they lost to the University of Washington by 10 points. Brees would even forgo an opportunity to be drafted in 2000 because he wanted to finish his academic career leading to those big wins and the loss to Washington.
Brees at Purdue showcasing his athleticism. (Gazette Photo)
Brees would declare for the 2001 draft and was projected to be taken in the middle of the first round, but due to concerns about his height, the perception of a lack of arm strength, and the idea that he succeeded in college because of his scheme, Brees fell to the second round of the draft where the then-San Diego Chargers selected him with the first pick in the second round.
This draft would be pivotal for the Chargers because with their first-round selection after trading out of the first overall pick, they would select hall of fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson, seemingly solidifying two of the most important skill positions on the offense for years to come.
Brees would not start a single game behind then quarterback Doug Flutie, though he did make one appearance after Flutie was knocked out of a week 8 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. His second season would be his first season as the starting quarterback for an offense that was familiar with Doug Flutie at the helm. After starting 6-1 Brees and the Chargers would struggle down the stretch and eventually finish the season 8-8. The next season the Chargers would start a meager 1-7 and Brees lost his starting job to Flutie, however, he would get his starting job back by week 15. Over this time Brees would throw more interceptions than touchdowns, but this was not a sign for what was to come in the future.
In the draft, the next off-season the Chargers selected quarterback Eli Manning with the first pick overall pick but ended up with Philip Rivers due to Manning’s refusal to play in San Diego. This was thought to lead to a quarterback controversy as Brees was still on the roster, but due to Rivers holding out of training camp because of contract negotiations and a good performance by Brees in the preseason and training camp, he retained his starting job. This seemed to motivate Brees more than any other season to this point because he led the chargers to a 12-4 record and received an invitation to the Pro-Bowl for his efforts. Though his team lost in the Wild Card against the New York Jets, this was a sign of more to come. Brees was also able to snag the Comeback Player of the Year award.
Following his most successful season, it was predicted Brees would not return to the Chargers because of free agency and the fact that the Chargers had a younger quarterback on the roster who has better physical attributes than Brees. The Chargers defied these predictions and applied the franchise tag to Brees, meaning he could not sign with another team without that team giving up 2 first-round picks for him. This would eventually lead to Brees signing a one-year deal that made him 8 million dollars for his troubles. Brees would go on to post a career-high in passing that season. But, during the last game of the season, Brees’ career would change forever. While attempting to recover his own fumble after being hit by Hall of Fame safety John Lynch, Brees, collided on the ground with 6’4 300lb+ tackle Gerald Warren that caused Brees to tear his labrum in his throwing shoulder and led to surgery and the idea that Brees’ career was in jeopardy.
Brees walking off of the field after his devastating injury. (K.C. Alfred/Union Tribune)
Oh, how wrong they were, Brees would court offers from the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints and after the Dolphins traded for quarterback Daunte Culpepper, the Saints remained the only option and price Brees liked. The Dolphins would state that fears over Brees’ injury were the reason for them pulling out of negotiations.
Coming into the 2006 season, the Saints were coming off of an abysmal 3-13 record. They had been displaced the previous season because of Hurricane Katrina that rendered the Superdome in New Orleans unusable for football games. That off-season, things changed forever for the Saints. They hired Bill Parcels disciple Sean Payton, they were able to return to their dome which they called home, they drafted Reggie Bush with the second overall pick in that year’s draft along with other key contributors that would be vital for the Saints future (Roman Harper, Jarhi Evans, Zack Strief and Marques Colston). All of these factors would lead the Saints to winning their division with a 10-6 record and a first-round bye. Brees would lead the league in passing with just a hair under 4,500 yards and a 3rd best in the league with 26 touchdowns. They won their playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the magical season would end at the Chicago Bears’ home of Soldier Field in a 39-14 loss.
The next season wouldn’t live up to the same hype as the previous season. They would start slow at 0-4, climb back to 4-4 and down the stretch play mediocre football to end 7-9. While Brees would go onto throw for over 4000 yards and 28 touchdowns on the season.
This would establish a pattern for the rest of Brees’ career. After a successful season, disappointment that would never dip further than 7-9 on the season. The Saints would routinely have an offense that would almost break the limits of football, yet be let down by inconsistent play on the other side of the ball.
After two 7-9 seasons with Brees crushing it throwing the football (5000+ yards in 2008), the Saints exploded to a 13-0 start to the season. Brees wouldn’t hit the same mark for passing yards as the previous season, but that’s because of a balanced running game led by Pierre Thomas and Bush. The Saints would go on to end the season 13-3 with the number 1 seed in the NFC locked up. This would lead to the Saints hosting the Arizona Cardinals and former regular season and Super Bowl MVP, Kurt Warner. After trading scores early, it was all Saints from there leading to a 45-14 rout of the Cardinals. Next up would be another multi-time MVP in Brett Favre with his Minnesota Vikings looking to give him one last shot at a ring. This game was much closer and much more volatile, with the game eventually heading to overtime after Favre threw an ill-timed interception late in the 4th quarter. The Saints would go on to win on the back of a Garrett Hartley field goal in overtime.
The now-iconic photo of Brees and his son celebrating his Super Bowl victory. (Gay/Associated Press)
This would catapult the Saints to the Super Bowl against league MVP Payton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts who sported an impressive 14-2 record. After starting slowly for the Saints standard the score was 10-6 at halftime. Head coach Sean Payton decided to attempt a very risky surprise onside kick that ended in a recovery by the Saints and gave much-needed momentum to the Saints offense who would subsequently go down the field and score their first touchdown in SuperBowl franchise history. While the Colts would respond with a touchdown of their own, the Saints would go on to score 17 unanswered points including a game-sealing interception return for a touchdown by Saints defensive back Tracey Porter that would seal the victory for the Saints at 31-17. Brees would have a solid game with 288 yards and two touchdowns. He would go on to claim his first and only Super Bowl MVP. This Super Bowl victory would be the only victory and only appearance for Brees and the Saints.
Following this magical season, the Saints would follow up with an 11-5 record and second place in the NFC South. Brees would throw a career-high 22 interceptions in what was seen as an off-year for Brees statistically even though Brees would pass for over 4,000 yards on the season. This performance would earn the Saints a Wild Card berth against the Seattle Seahawks. The run would end there that year due to Marshawn Lynch going ballistic on a legendary run now dubbed the “The Beast Quake”. This would result in the Saints being upset in a 41-36 defeat.
The following season the Saints would bounce back behind a record-breaking Brees season in arguably the best of his career. He would go onto break the single-season records for passing yards (5,476 yards), completions (468 completions) and yards per game (342.25 yards per game). Behind these records, Brees led the Saints to a 13-3 record and the third seed in the NFC. During their Wild Card matchup against the Detroit Lions Brees threw almost 500 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 45-28 win. The next week would bring a matchup with the vaunted San Francisco 49ers led by outspoken head coach Jim Harbaugh. This matchup would end in a heartbreaking 36-32 loss on a last-second touchdown thrown by 49ers quarterback Alex Smith to Vernon Davis in the back of the endzone with 9 seconds left on the clock.
Heartbreak wouldn’t be the only thing the Saints would have to endure following this loss as it came to light that Saints coaches were orchestrating a bounty program within the locker room for players to injure opposing players on purpose. Saints then Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams was the head of the program now known as “Bountygate”. While Sean Payton and Assistant Coach Joe Vitt did not assume leadership of this scandal they were aware of its happenings along with General Manager Mickey Loomis. This would lead to suspensions for all 4 men ranging from 6 games to one year and an indefinite suspension for Williams, which would be overturned the following season. Players on the defense were also handed down suspensions. Jonathan Vilma (the entire 2012 season), Anthony Hargrove (8 games), Will Smith (4 games) and Scott Fujita (3 games) were all tabbed as leaders in this bounty program.
With the loss of coaches, players and eventually draft picks (2 second-rounders in the subsequent years), the Saints would regress to a 7-9 record even with Brees again putting up 5,000+ yards and 40+ touchdowns on the season. This was largely due to an NFL record worst defense giving up over 7,000 yards on their way to missing the playoffs. Lost in the drama of Bountygate fallout and the defense turning into a 4th-grade flag football team, Brees broke a 52-year-old record held by Johnny Unitas of 48 consecutive games with a touchdown pass.
The following season with everyone returning from suspension the Saints would bounce back from the previous season and go 11-5 and second place in the NFC South. With help from star tight end Jimmy Graham, the Saints would go onto the playoffs yet again to face the Philadelphia Eagles in their home stadium. This would be the first time in the Payton/Brees era that the team would win a playoff game on the road (narrowly at that) with help from a last-second field goal by then kicker Shayne Graham. The Saints season would end at the hands of future Super Bowl champion, Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, in a game that was much closer than it would seem.
Brees struggling with the lack of talent around him. (John-David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports)
The next 3 seasons would all be eerily similar to each other. Between the 2014 and 2016 seasons, Brees would put up fantastic numbers, the Saints would seem competitive but their defense would eventually let them down, giving up massive numbers during this time. All three seasons would end with a 7-9 record and Brees and the Saints missing the playoffs. Brees revealed that he found these three seasons very frustrating with 2014, in particular, being the most frustrating due to the Saints being in close games and not being able to seal the deal in those games. Remember that pattern I was talking about?
The 2017 season seemed to trend in the same direction with the Saints losing by double digits in their first two games. After those two losses to begin the season, they never looked back and rattled off 8 wins in a row. The reason for this turnaround was because of one of the best draft classes ever assembled by a team. Big names like Running Back Alvin Kamara, Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, Safety Marcus Williams and Offensive Lineman Ryan Ramczyk were all instant contributors to the team that desperately needed help. This infusion of young talent paired with the offensive firepower Brees and the Saints always seemed to have led them to an 11-5 record on the season and first place in the NFC South. Giving the Saints their first playoff berth since 2013. This would lead to a Wild Card showdown with their division rival, the Carolina Panthers. In a game that came down to the last play, the Saints were able to outlast the Panthers 31-26 behind Brees throwing 376 yards and 2 touchdowns. The following week the Saints would travel to Minneapolis in a matchup against a very solid Vikings team. While leading a comeback late into the 4th quarter, the Saints had a lead heading into the final play of the game. On a play that will not only haunt me but haunt the Saints forever, Minnesota quarterback Case Keenum threw a pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs. A complete whiff of a tackle from previously mentioned rookie Marcus Williams would lead to Diggs running untouched into the endzone with no time remaining. This play would be given the name “The Minneapolis Miracle”.
Following the heartbreak of the previous postseason, Brees and the Saints seemed determined to fight their way back to the top of the NFL with a roster that was packed with talent on both sides of the football. Coming off of a 2 year, 50 million dollar extension for Brees the Saints would march to a 13-3 record and the number 1 seed in the NFC. While Brees looked electric for the first part of the season (including breaking the all-time career yardage record). Brees seemed to slow down late into the season. The Saints would host the Eagles in their Divisional weekend game. After falling into an early hole against the previous year’s Super Bowl champions, the Saints would go on to win the game 20-14 on a game-clinching interception by Lattimore that propelled them to the NFC Championship game for the first time since 2009. The team standing between them and the Super Bowl was the Los Angeles Rams led by young Quarterback/Coach duo of (discount Ryan Gosling) Jared Goff and Sean McVay. The game was going normally until deep in the 4th quarter when referees missed a blatant pass interference call against Los Angeles that would have allowed the Saints to run down the clock and kick a game-winning field goal. The call wasn’t made and the Saints would go on to lose in overtime and lose their best opportunity to move on to the Super Bowl since 2009.
Brees on the night he broke the all-time career passing yards record. (Associated Press)
The next season would be close to the previous season, the talent around Brees would lead to the Saints going 13-3 and the 3rd seed in the NFC. Brees would play well, but down the stretch struggle again. During the season Brees would go on to break the all-time career touchdown passing record previously held by New Orleans native Payton Manning (540). Being the 3rd seed meant the Saints would be matched up against the Vikings again. This would again lead to the Saints losing in heartbreaking fashion as Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph would grab a 4-yard touchdown (and maybe push off his defender?) for the win in overtime. Another post-season ended in heartbreak.
The final season of Brees career would start with Brees signing a 2 year, 50 million dollar extension with the team. Due to injuries sustained throughout the season, Brees would have a pedestrian 2,942 yards paired with 24 touchdowns in 12 games. Yet, due to the immense talent on the roster, the Saints would go on to win 12 games, first place in the NFC South, and lay claim to the 2nd seed in the NFC, but due to the NFL adding a playoff game, this prevented the Saints from getting a first-round bye. They would win their Wild Card weekend matchup against the Chicago Bears who limped into the playoffs. This would lead to a matchup with soon-to-b Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fighting through multiple injuries Brees committed 3 costly turnovers and the Saints would end up losing by 10 points to Tom Brady and a buzzsaw of a defense.
Brees after his final game waving goodbye to fans in the Superdome. (Brynn Anderson/Associated Press)
Brees would announce his retirement 15 years to the day when he signed with the Saints (March 14th).
While I haven’t always agreed with Brees’ politics I do know one thing; Brees was deeper than football in the city of New Orleans. He spent time caring for his community. Brees helped rebuild schools, homes and athletic facilities following the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina. Brees has helped restore neighborhoods that were otherwise overlooked in the aftermath of Katrina, helping start after-school programs, mentoring programs and academic programs for the intellectually challenged. He has helped raise awareness for suicides within the LGBTQ+ community. Following the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brees donated 5 million dollars to help open healthcare facilities in New Orleans for people who needed it most. To this day Brees has donated over 35 million dollars to charitable causes worldwide.
As a kid growing up in Brooklyn, New York I personally never felt a connection to my local football teams. My parents being from Western New York didn’t sway me to become a Bills fan. There was something special about Brees that attracted me to the team when I first saw that Madden 11 Cover. Maybe it was because Brees and the Saints were the best team in the game, or maybe I connected with Brees being shorter than everyone else at his position similar to myself (shoutout to the sub-6-foot guys). Brees made me fall in love with football to the point where I watch films from games I can’t remember and when I see certain moments in Saints history that I wasn’t a fan during (Super Bowl run, the return to the Superdome) I get goosebumps. Football has gotten me through hard times in my life, times where I felt I had nothing, I knew I had the Saints and Drew on Sunday afternoons waiting for me, win or lose. Without getting that copy of Madden 11 all those years ago, who knows where I would be. But I am damn happy to be where I am now, and without Drew and the Saints, none of it would be possible.
So, thank you, Drew. I look forward to following your broadcast on NBC in the future.
