All of America was watching the six-foot quarterback from Arlington, Texas Monday night when the New Orleans Saints faced off against the Washington Redskins at home. The quarterback, Drew Brees, has faced some of the greatest players and coaches of our generation on all sides of the ball. Brees already has some amazing records, including a single-season passing yard record, but now he is looking to be the all-time passing yards leader.

Drew Brees’s NFL career began in San Diego, California, where he was a back-up quarterback for the San Diego Chargers after being drafted in 2001. Once the starting position was open for him, there was no turning back. In the 8th week of the season with the Chargers, Brees entered into a 19-0 deficit and his first pass was a fumble. He recovered the ball and his mindset and was able to lead the Chargers to a 20-19 victory against the Chiefs. Once the starting quarterback was gone, in 2002, Brees debuted in his new position, and led the Chargers to victories in all three of their first games ahead of meeting with Tom Brady and the Patriots. Going into that game, Brees had the advantage and continued his success through the game. Brees and the Chargers came out of the game with a 21-14 victory. The following year, 2003, Brees was stuck at 4,955 passing yards and was sidelined for six weeks as Flutie had to take over. Brees reclaimed his position as the starting man again just as the 2003 season came to an end.

In 2004 during the 4th week of the season against the Titans, Brees had his turning point of the season. After a 1-2 start to the season, the head coach Maty Schottenheimer, told Brees that he was one drive away from being taken over by Philip Rivers. At the risk of being taken over, Brees went down the field multiple times and helped the Chargers win 38-17. He was named comeback player of the year with a final record of 12-4. 2005 was a year to remember for him, as he was signed by the Saints for six years and $60 million. Rivers took over as the starting quarterback for the Chargers, and would end that season with 9 wins. In the first game of the 2006 season, Brees made his first start in a Saints uniform and made a statement by starting 3-0 and ending the season with 4,418 passing yards that season. He led the New Orleans Saints to the NFC Championship game. In 2008, he got his first chance to play against his former teammates as the Saints went head to head with the Chargers, throwing for 339 yards and three touchdowns, and he has since never lost a game against the Chargers in the three times that they have met.

As the 2009 season came around, the records followed close behind. Brees threw for six touchdowns in a 45-27 game against the Detroit Lions, keeping the touchdowns coming, as they started the season 13-0 including a career game against the Patriots. Brees out-dueled Brady with 371 yards, five TD’s and no interceptions in a 38-17 win. The regular season ended with Brees having the best single completion percentage at 70.62%, one that he would top two more times in his career. The post-season Brees ended with 8 TD’s and he led the Saints to an exciting 31-17 Super Bowl victory against the Indianapolis Colts.

Brees led the single season passing yard record at 5,476 in 2011 with 46 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, 10 five passing touchdown games, 7 consecutive 4,500 passing yards, and 7 season leading passing yards. All of this is on top of the all-time passing yard leader title he achieved. He set a new standard with a 62 yard touchdown pass in New Orleans. With the Hall of Fame waiting, he has 71,968 career passing yards and from now on, he is in uncharted territory plotting his own course, as he continues the 2018 season – his 18th season as a professional quarterback. Brees and the Saints are seeking a comeback season after the heartbreaking playoff elimination last year against the Minnesota Vikings.