Drew Christopher Brees (born January 15, 1979 in
Austin, Texas) is an American football quarterback
for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. The San Diego
Chargers originally selected him as the first pick
of the 2001 NFL Draft's second round.
Brees attended Westlake High School in his hometown
Austin, Texas. As a senior, he led Westlake to the
1996 5A Division II State Championship, and won with
a 55-15 rout over Abilene Cooper at the Texas
Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Westlake finished that
season 16-0, their only undefeated season to date.
Brees was named Class 5A's most valuable offensive
player that year as he threw for 3,528 yards and 31
touchdowns.
Brees endeared himself to New Orleans far beyond the
playing field. He and his wife Brittany chose to
purchase and renovate a home in Uptown New Orleans,
and he also involved himself heavily in charities
engaged in Hurricane Katrina recovery. On February
18th, 2007, Brees was honored by the Krewe of
Bacchus (a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade club) as
the 2007 Bacchus Grand Marshal. This was only the
second time in the Krewe's 39 year history that they
named a Grand Marshal. Brees wears contact lenses
when he plays football; this fact was cited during
the first game of the regular season against the
Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints where
Brees had one of them knocked out during a play.
Brees had to return to the sideline to get it
replaced.
