Drew Christopher Brees is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons. A member of the New Orleans Saints for most of his career, he is second in NFL career passing completion percentage, career touchdown passes, career passing yards, career pass completions, and career pass attempts. He also holds the record of consecutive games with a touchdown pass, breaking the feat held by Johnny Unitas for 52 years.
At the conclusion of his 15 seasons in New Orleans, Drew extended his total Pro Bowl selections to 13 and was twice named Offensive Player of the Year. He also led the NFL in passing yards a record seven times. He retired after the 2020 season and spent the 2021 season as an analyst on NBC Sunday Night Football.
In 2010, Sports Illustrated described Brees as “an athlete as adored and appreciated as any in an American city today”. When Sports Illustrated selected him for the 2010 Sportsman of the Year award, it said the award was “[f]or not only leading the New Orleans Saints to the first Super Bowl title in the franchise’s history, but also for helping lead the city of New Orleans’ rebirth after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina”. The fact that he and his family lived in New Orleans proper, instead of the suburbs like many players did, further endeared him to fans.