Brees Joins Boilermakers at Monday Practice

Interviews: Coach Odom | Curt Neal | Xavier Townsend

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football opened its second week of fall camp on Monday (August 10) with Drew Brees in attendance after his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame over the weekend.

“He addressed the team, and it was an unbelievable message from the greatest to do it,” said head coach Barry Odom. “When he reached out and said he was going to come back after the ceremony this weekend, I was thrilled that he would take time out of his schedule to come join us.”

On Monday morning, the Boilermakers began their second week of fall camp and the first full week of the fall session. The program had Brees address the team ahead of practice after he became the fifth Boilermaker to be inducted into the Hall of Fam in Canton, Ohio on Saturday (August 8). 

“He talked about the brotherhood of the team when he was here,” said Odom. “He talked a lot about the ownership that it takes… Just Drew being Drew, and it’s pretty remarkable stuff.”

Brees’ impact can be felt throughout an entire roster on any level. Curt Neal, a new addition to the Boilermakers this season on the defensive line after transferring from Illinois, was honored to hear words from one of the all-time greats.

“It was amazing.” said Neal. “Having a guy like that, an NFL Hall of Famer, was awesome. You can’t make that energy up. He lived it, and he’s done it at the highest of highs… That's one of the greatest ever and to learn and get little nuggets like that from his speech is awesome. I’m honored, and I wouldn’t have changed that for the world.”

Another newcomer ahead of the 2026 season, wide receiver Xavier Townsend, came to Purdue after spending last season at Iowa State and his three prior at UCF. As someone on the same side of the ball as Brees, the message resonated well with Townsend.

“That was incredibly special,” said Townsend. “It’s not often that you get Hall of Famers being able to come in, and it was really important to us… Seeing him getting the gold jacket, everyone is striving for that in this profession."

Brees observed practice on the heels of becoming the first Boilermaker enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame since Rod Woodson in 2009.

Purdue returns to the practice field on Tuesday morning (August 11).

Couple of Cradle guys 🤝@MarkHerrmann9 x @drewbrees pic.twitter.com/gK5L5ZdAcj

— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) August 10, 2026