The quarterback of the New Orleans Saints and an 18-year professional broke the NFL career passing yards record. In the Saints' 43-19 win over the Washington Redskins at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Brees overtook Brett Favre (71,838) and Peyton Manning (71,940). His total stands at 72,103. Brees took over the top spot late in the second quarter on a 62-yard touchdown pass to Tre'Quan Smith. For the game, Brees completed 26 of 29 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
"It's hard for me to reflect too much right now just because my career's not done," Brees said. "There are still goals to be accomplished. There are still challenges to be met. And so I'm still very focused on that. And yet, when something like this happens, there are so many people who are responsible for that, that are a part of that, that makes me happy. It makes me proud and it makes me extremely grateful - extremely grateful for the opportunity to play this game, to play it as long as I've played it, to have wound up here in New Orleans. It's just been an unbelievable journey."
An emotional @drewbrees reflects on his historic night. ???? pic.twitter.com/5M1J0OpWPH
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2018
On Sept. 23, Brees set the NFL career completions record (6,370). He also holds the career completion percentage mark (.672) and ranks third with 70,089 yards of total offense behind Manning (70,654) and Favre (70,195) and fourth with 499 passing touchdowns behind Manning (539), Favre (508) and Tom Brady (500).
Watch as @Saints QB @drewbrees comes off the field after his record throw to hand @PFHOFPrez the football from his career passing yards record! The football will be on display in Canton. pic.twitter.com/L61sh7ve3o
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) October 9, 2018
At Purdue from 1997 to 2000, Brees became one of the most-decorated players in school history.
- He established two NCAA records, 13 Big Ten Conference records and 19 Purdue records.
- He was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and two-time first team all-conference selection.
- He won the 2000 Maxwell Award as the nation's outstanding player and the "Chicago Tribune" Silver Football as the Big Ten Most Valuable Player.
- He was the 2000 Academic All-American of the Year.
Prior to the game Monday night, Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm talked about Brees making history and more:
"Well, I think it's tremendous. He's a guy that defied the odds and played at a high level and now will go down as one of the great quarterbacks in the history of the game. He's a winner. He wants Purdue to win. He follows our games. Does everything right off the field. Couldn't meet a finer person, and I think it's because of his background and his family and the ability to play here and be so productive for this university and take it to a Rose Bowl and all the things that he's done after his playing days, we couldn't have a better ambassador than Drew Brees."