Drew Brees

Sport: Football

Induction Year: 2024

University: Purdue

Considered by many to be the best free agent in NFL history, Brees overcame questions about his height and arm strength and a devastating shoulder injury to become the league’s all-time leader in several passing categories.

A 13-time Pro Bowl pick in a 20-year career, Brees shattered nearly every passing mark for the Saints after joining forces with Sean Payton in March 2006 following five seasons with the Chargers. Together, they made the Saints’ offense one of the league’s most productive over a 15-year period until Brees’ retirement in March 2021. The Saints finished in the top five in points scored 10 times, leading the league in 2008 and 2009, and finished top five in total offense 11 times – taking the top spot six times (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016) – en route to seven NFC South titles in nine playoff appearances.

A two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Brees, the 2006 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year, a Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year and an Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, Brees led the Saints to three NFC championship games (2006, 2009, 2018) after the franchise had none in its first 39 years of existence and they claimed their only Vince Lombardi trophy with a 31-17 win over the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV on Feb. 7, 2010. That night, he completed 32 of 39 pass attempts for 288 yards and two TDs to earn MVP honors.

Brees once held NFL passing records for yards (80,358), TDs (571), completions (7,142) and attempts (10,551) – all marks that have been surpassed by Tom Brady, who played in 48 more games than Brees. He was the most accurate passer in league history, completing 67.7% of his attempts before being surpassed last season by Joe Burrow (68.2%).

In addition to his many career marks, Brees authored five 5,000-yard passing seasons, a feat that had been accomplished just once when he first did it in 2008, and had 10 seasons with at least 30 TDs. He shares the NFL single-game record with seven TD passes. In 2012, Brees threw a touchdown pass in his 48th straight game, breaking the mark of 47 set 52 years earlier by the great Johnny Unitas. The streak reached 54 games before being snapped. … Born 1-15-1979 in Austin, Texas.