Drew Brees Inducted Into NFL Hall of Fame

At Purdue University, Significant Sig Drew Brees ’01 demonstrated his ability to combine being an outstanding athlete, student and community member and was recognized with the 2000 Maxwell Award as the nation’s outstanding player and as the Academic All-American of the Year. Drew also led Purdue to the 2001 Rose Bowl for only the second time in the school’s history.

Stellar NFL Career

In the NFL, he continued to perform at league-leading and record-setting levels on the field while, at the same time, garnering recognition for his community contributions.

The San Diego Chargers selected Brees in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. His career started slowly, finally gaining some momentum in 2004, when he earned the 2004 AP Comeback Player of the Year award, PFWA Most Improved Player of the Year award and a Pro Bowl invitation.

After joining the New Orleans Saints in 2006, Brees began to flourish. Over the next 15 seasons, he led the league in passes completed and passing percentage (with five seasons exceeding 70.6 percent). He led the NFL in passing yards seven times and tallied five seasons in which he exceeded 5,000 yards passing. In the 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 seasons, Brees led the league in passing touchdowns.

Throughout the course of his 20-season career, Brees accumulated 80,358 yards passing and 571 passing touchdowns — both second all time for NFL quarterbacks.

His on-field efforts led to 13 Pro Bowl selections, AP first-team All-Pro recognition (2006), two AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards (2008, 2011), and a Super Bowl XLIV title and MVP award. In 2009, Brees earned the Bert Bell Award as the NFL Player of the Year.

Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton on the sidelines with Drew Brees ’01.

In 2010, the Associated Press named Brees as its Male Athlete of the Year, while Sports Illustrated selected him as Sportsman of the Year.

Off the field, Brees has been recognized for his work on several occasions. He was chosen as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2006 and received the 2011 Alan Page Community Award for positive impact in his hometown.

Hall of Fame Introduction by Sean Payton

Former New Orleans Saint head football coach and Significant Sig Sean Payton (Eastern Illinois University) was honored to do Brees’ introduction to the NFL Hall of Fame.  To view it go to Brees Hall of Fame Introduction.

Credit: This “Hall of Fame Class of 2026” story was pulled from the NFL Hall of Fame website on September 8, 2026.