On Oct. 8, 2018 the New Orleans Saints played the Washington Redskins at home on Monday Night Football. This was a highly anticipated game for the NFL because it was possible that the Saints quarterback Drew Brees would surpass the current passing yards record that was held by former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.
Brees entered the game with 74,740 yards passing and needed only 201 to beat Manning. With a 62-yard touchdown pass to rookie Tre’Quan Smith, Brees did just that.
After the touchdown the game was paused and Brees was met by the embrace and celebration of fellow teammates on field.
He then went to the sidelines to celebrate with his wife and their four children. Brees told his children “How ‘bout that huh? I Iove you guys so much. You can accomplish anything in life if you’re willing to work for it.”
As the game continued Brees went on to complete 26 of 29 passed and threw for 363 yards beating the Redskins in a final score of 43-19.
Brees graduated from Purdue in 2001 and entered the draft shortly after graduating. He was selected late first round by the San Diego Chargers. It wasn’t until his second season with the Chargers that he was named their starting quarterback.
Brees struggled with his third season in 2003 and was benched for a few games but regained his starting job by the end of the season. In 2004 the Chargers drafted Philip Rivers as a quarterback which arose question to Brees’ starting quarterback position. Brees however worked hard in the offseason and proved to keep fulfilling his job as the Chargers starting quarterback.
Brees took the Chargers to a 12-4 season record in which they also won the AFC West for the first time in 10 seasons. In the last game of his fourth season with the Chargers, Brees was hit while attempting to recover his own fumble and tore a muscle in his throwing arm. He was required to undergo surgery to repair his arm which left him questionable for the next season.
Due to the money the Chargers guaranteed the backup, Rivers, the Chargers and Brees weren’t able to make a deal.
In 2006 Brees signed with the New Orleans Saints and signed a six year deal with them in March of that year. Just one year after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina that left the New Orleans Saints with no arena to play in, Brees lead his team to a 10-6 record for that season. The Saints also won their division in his first year as their starting quarterback.
That year Brees also lead the league in passing yards and set a Saints franchise record with 4,418 passing yards.
In 2010 after four years with the Saints and two playoff appearances later the Saints won their first Super Bowl defeating the Colts and their leader Peyton Manning. From 2010-2016 Brees was the only quarterback to have seven consecutive seasons with 4,500 passing yards.
But those aren’t the only records he holds. He also leads the league in most career completions with 6,344, most consecutive games with a touchdown pass, (54) and most 5,000-yard passing seasons (5), to name a few.
Brees is on pace to throw for 644 passes this season, his 18th. Brees at 39-years-old doesn’t show signs of stopping and his numbers are proof that what he told his kids is true, that “you can accomplish anything in life, if you’re willing to work for it.
Lindsey Elam
Reporter