Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints is now considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Brees’ career accomplishments include being named to five Pro-bowls and helping the historically beleaguered New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV in 2009. Before Brees made it big time, he lived in Austin and played football at Westlake High School.

Brees, 32, graduated from Westlake in 1997. As a senior, Brees led Westlake to a 16-0 record and a state title. He was named the Texas High School 5A Most Valuable Offensive Player. In his two years as the starting quarterback, Westlake went 28-0-1.

Brees went on to play college ball at Purdue. According to his Purdue Player Bio, Brees ended his career as the Purdue and Big Ten Conference leader in passing attempts (1,678), passing completions (1,026), passing yards (11,792), passing touchdowns (90) and total offense (12,692). He won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s most outstanding player in 2000. Brees was also placed fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1999 and third in 2000.

The Boilermaker standout was selected in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. Brees had a few lackluster seasons with the hapless Chargers, and it appeared his time as a starter was over when the team brought in Philip Rivers in 2004. Brees managed to hold on to the starting job for two more years. In 2004, Brees  led the Chargers to a 12-4 record, and he was named the 2004 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. In 2005, Brees continued his strong play, but he suffered a torn labrum in his throwing arm in the last game of the season.

Thought to be “tainted goods,” he entered free agency in 2006 and signed a six-year, $60 million deal with the Saints. Brees has experienced a great deal of success on the field and in the New Orleans community in his five plus years with the Saints. But his best year was during the 2009-2010 season when he led the Saints to victory in Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts and was named the game’s MVP.

The Saints are currently 7-3, and Brees is again putting up great numbers. According to Jeff Duncan of the The Times-Picayune, Brees is on pace to break Dan Marino’s 1984 record of 5,084 passing yards in a season. Through ten games, Brees has thrown for 3,326 yards and is on pace to pass for 5,321 yards.