All quotes are from an interview with Brees that day. Drew Brees's career began like many great quarterbacks: a high school state championship in Texas, nonetheless , and a successful college career at a Big Ten school, Purdue. At 22, he was selected by the Chargers as the first pick of the second round — the second overall quarterback to come off the board that year behind Michael Vick.
Brees was with the Chargers for five seasons, playing backup to Doug Flutie his rookie season before taking over as the starter in In an exclusive interview with the the team, Brees recently opened up about what it was like to spend his formative football years in a Chargers' uniform — his journey, his bond with his teammates and the leaders that influenced his growth as a player and brought out his inner greatness.
In , the Chargers were in the middle of a five-year playoff drought and in search of a long-term solution at quarterback. But what I grew to realize — through the advice of many — was it's not how high you get drafted, it's about going to the right team, being in the right situation — the right environment that's going to put you in the best position to grow and develop and succeed and I absolutely feel like San Diego was that place for me.
The Chargers were patient, and Brees was ultimately selected behind Chargers' Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who was taken fifth overall.
Brees and Tomlinson both played high school football in Texas, and were both Heisman finalists in during their senior years at Purdue and Texas Christian University TCU , respectively. We were at the Heisman together, so LT and I kind of had this vision of maybe ending up on the same team. And when it happened it was like, 'Wow, here we go. And while having Tomlinson in the backfield was certainly somewhat of a dream come true for Brees, his bond with Tomlinson runs deeper than football; it's a friendship that's going strong more than two decades later.
I mean, very rarely do you get a chance to be around a guy who — I think — just epitomizes everything you would want in a teammate, in a player, in a person, and that's Ladainian Tomlinson," Brees said. Drew Brees's Charger career started like most quarterbacks during that era of football, waiting patiently for their opportunity.
In Brees's case he was the backup for veteran Doug Flutie, who was also in his first season with the Chargers. Brees's only appearance during his rookie season was November 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Entering the game to relieve Flutie, Brees finished with passing yards and threw his first career touchdown — a yard pass to tight end Freddie Jones.
The following season, Brees was named the starter and finally got the chance to prove himself as an NFL quarterback. The Chargers improved to 8—8 that season, up from a 5—11 record in We know what great leadership looks like and we know how to turn this thing around. That "chip" set the tone for what turned out to be an incredible season not only for the Chargers as a team, but for Brees as a quarterback as well.
In what is now considered his breakout season, Brees posted career-high numbers while leading the Chargers to an AFC West title. He completed over 65 percent of his passes and ended the season with a QBR of Only Peyton Manning — who had thrown a record-breaking 49 touchdown passes — and Daunte Culpepper finished in front of Brees.
Drew Brees was on the Chargers for five seasons. In 59 games, he threw for a total of 12, yards, 80 touchdowns and 53 interceptions. He finished with an overall quarterback rating of The first few years of any young quarterback's career are important. Drew Brees's Charger career was no different. Brees attributes his development and growth to his teammates and his coaches.
Being around [former offensive coordinator] Norv Turner early on and Mike Riley, but really the leadership on that team with Junior Seau, Rodney Harrison, Lorenzo Neal — just so many veteran guys that had been around so long [and] played a ton of football," Brees said. That had a big influence on me. But it wasn't just about football for Brees, who also noted his personal relationships were just as special to his development — not just as a player, but as a person.
When he was drafted by the Chargers in , Brees found something that even the most elite rosters struggle to find: camaraderie. So you just find yourself connecting with guys beyond just the football field, especially since so many of us were in similar stages in our life, right? We're starting to get married, thinking about starting families, wanting to get active in the communities, so you just find yourself doing a lot of things together, supporting each other….
You're in the same phase of life. During his recent visit to a Chargers' training camp practice, Brees even told the story of his favorite play in a Charger uniform.
It was in one of his first big wins against the Raiders, who went on to the Super Bowl in It was an away game, at the Black Hole, and the Chargers had forced the game into overtime. The first play in overtime was a run play that Brees had to check to an option due to the defense's formation.
Next play, big play to Tim Dwight. Next play, hand off on — I think we called it 50 power, which was Marty Schottenheimer's signature run play…. After his time with the Chargers ended, Brees went on to play another 15 seasons with the New Orleans Saints. In his 20 seasons as an NFL quarterback, Brees put together what is considered one of the greatest careers of all time. He holds several records and his all-time numbers are spectacular. Brees holds several in-game records as well, including highest completion percentage in a game and most touchdown passes in a game, although he's tied with seven other quarterbacks for that record.
In March , after a long and successful professional NFL career that began with the Chargers back in , Drew Brees announced the season would be his last. He said this offseason went by faster than when he was playing but that he's very much enjoying the less demanding schedule of being a professional athlete. I would say this: it totally lacked structure.
That is the one thing that football gives you, and it's the one thing you kind of hear from guys that you don't really experience for yourself until retirement. Garoppolo has a torn ligament and chipped bone in his right thumb. Left tackle Trent Williams elbow did not practice but is improving after [more]. Breaking down the best potential candidate and a few alternatives for the seven current head coach openings in the NFL.
It seems Robert Kraft laid down the gauntlet for Bill Belichick. Read full article. More content below. Cincinnati Bengals. Las Vegas Raiders. Drew Brees. John Sigler. In this article:. Live Today Tomorrow vs - -. Recommended Stories. Fresno Bee. Bengals Wire. The Week. The Daily Advertiser. UGA Wire. Yahoo Sports.
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