Drew Brees: too short, too injured ... Super Bowl MVP

We know Drew Brees because he’s famous for being very very good at football. His numbers are gaudy (80,358 career passing yards; 571 career TD passes), he’s been to the Pro Bowl a baker’s dozen times and was Super Bowl MVP in 2010. So, since we know all that, it’s not what we cover in this video. Instead we travel his path to success.
First, there was a time when Drew Brees was considered too small for the NFL. Okay, he overcame that, only to face a time he was considered not good enough to start, followed swiftly by a time when Philip Rivers was drafted to replace him. And then there was the time when he was pretty good but suffered a horrible horrible injury.
Let's enter the prism.
Written and produced by: Clara Morris
Directed and edited by: Charlotte Atkinson
Motion Graphics by: Michael Das
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[@ClarenceBeeks64]

Watching undersize QBs who's more athletic than Drew Brees struggle is a true testament to Brees greatness.

[@jmgonzales7701]

People seem to forget that football is a tall man sport

[@PuchuKt]

​@@colder32 what about bowling or golf? (I don't know anything about those sports)

[@kleatise52]

@@jmgonzales7701 in sports, any advantage works. Height is one.

[@alejandropelayo9288]

@@PuchuKt I don't either. I doubt they are beneficial. Tall golfers might have a faster swing. I doubt height works against you as it does in gymnastics

[@kashdub2210]

Facts and on the backend of his career he had a noodle for an arm

[@CL-vx9dr]

People don't understand how hard it is to play QB at 6'. It's nearly impossible to see over the O line. Somehow he still had the best vision in the league over and over again. Amazing.

[@fortynights1513]

That does beg one question: What’s the average height for a quarterback today?

[@CL-vx9dr]

@@fortynights1513 I think avg height is like 6'2", but the best typically seem to be 6'4" and up. Manning, Brady, etc.

[@kassondraaleman8993]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6uzf2dnoN-GjZY

[@looneytune6062]

Height is irrelevant in middle school I played QB and was 4’8 we went undefeated

[@brycehawes38]

And it was shown this year with the struggles of Murray, Russ, and baker

[@bengarland9666]

Drew Brees' career can be summarized by one line: "I didn't hear no bell"

[@isaac3736]

Maybe not the GOAT on statistics or rings, but certainly a GOAT within the fan's hearts.

[@clivebazzington]

@@isaac3736 except he kinda is the GOAT when it comes to statistics lol

[@kleatise52]

@@clivebazzington ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[@isaac3736]

@@clivebazzington What I meant is that he never won an MVP and has only one ring, and of course his early years with the Chargers are questionable to say the least. But hey, he's one of my fav QB, I'd rank him at least on my top 5

[@dominicpancella3012]

@@clivebazzington Finally, someone else who agrees with what I've been saying since like 2016. He may only have 1 ring, but rings definitely aren't everything, especially considering the team around him was far less stable than the teams Brady played with in New England and Manning in Indy. He's the only quarterback ever to throw for 40+ TDs and 5,000+ yards in multiple 16-game seasons (Mahomes threw his second this year, but he had an extra game to get his 40th and 41st TD passes), 12 straight 4,000-yard seasons (and 8 yards from a 13th) when no one else has had more than 10 in a row, and his rate metrics far surpass pretty much everyone with his longevity except Aaron Rodgers. I'd make him, Brady, Manning, and Marino my GOAT Rushmore but I can't definitively say one is better than the rest.

[@Joshh-uk1ww]

Growing up a Saints fan Drew was a mythical being. A super hero on the same level has Spider-Man and Batman. Has I got older I was able to better appreciate his game more critically, however I never ceased to just love everything he did on and off the field. The greatest to ever dawn the Black and Gold, I am so happy to see him get appreciated here.

[@evancase3087]

Man I grew up in Nola and I cried like a baby that last game when we lost 😢

[@Joshh-uk1ww]

@@evancase3087 that lasts one didn’t make me cry but it did make me reflect. All I could do is stare into the sky. The Rams loss was the only one to bring me to tears. Vikings made me rage.

[@gstone187]

@@Joshh-uk1ww The look back to the Dome as he walked into the locker room one last time made me pretty sad

[@orindasfinest]

The greatest to ever *don the Black and Gold

[@huntertrum3658]

Drew Brees, literally and metaphorically, was a Saint for the city of New Orleans.

[@ikefromsmashbros9237]

I love how well this channel presents sports as a perpetually-developing story driven by real people. It's how all sports coverage should be, and you guys are the best at it.

[@GorillaRadio88]

You neglected to mention that Brees’ years as a Charger coincided with LT’s prime, which had a major effect on the offensive philosophy of the team.

[@fortynights1513]

He certainly wouldn’t have been told to throw as much as some, that’s for certain

[@champhasfanz]

Marty ball

[@drphot6050]

That's said because that was a huge part of his lack of stats but showed his maturity

[@YouCallThataKnife253]

It's wild to think of Drew Brees as anything other than one of the absolute best to ever do it. The man truly worked his way to the top

[@aaronrosen3002]

that's funny because he was never at the top. Not once was he the best player in the NFL

[@Nationof300]

@@aaronrosen3002 we didn’t ask you

[@aaronrosen3002]

@@Nationof300 nice argument bozo

[@aaronrosen3002]

@@Nationof300 who's we btw? I think u mean YOU'RE cranky bc I stated a fact about ur QB

[@Nationof300]

@@aaronrosen3002 lmao not the best but Brady literally had to spend another 200 years in the nfl to break all of Bree’s records 😂😂😂

[@CaesarSalad19]

Brees finished 2nd in MVP voting 4 times. It is crazy. Once to LT's 31 TD season, once to Aaron Rodgers leading the Packers to a 15-1 record. Once to Mahomes dropping 5000 yards and 50 TDs The 4th one was when he finally had a shot to not go against a record breaking season and yet he lost to Peyton where their stats were really close. Oh well he won the Super Bowl over Peyton that year.

[@cmbotch5739]

Yep I've had discussions with other football fans before about how I believed Drew Brees deserved MVP that year over Peyton. He had one more touchdown, FIVE fewer interceptions and a better completion percentage. He had just 112 fewer yards but didn't play at all week 17. I know the Colts were 14-0 going into week 16 and Peyton didn't end up playing much of week 17 either, but I think there's still a good argument for Brees that year.

[@coruscant100]

It's a shame that Brees never saw another Super Bowl again. The Rams and Saints game should've had New Orleans win and be given a matchup between Brady and Brees. Sadly, that'll never happen now.

[@fortynights1513]

That 2018 Saints team was pretty good looking back at it: Brees in possibly the last year of his prime, the duo of Kamara and Ingram, Michael Thomas, five linemen who made a pro bowl or all pro, and a defense that was actually average as opposed to a few of the trash ones he had in prior years.

[@whydoesthischannelexist421]

We should’ve won

[@dominicpancella3012]

It *should've* been Chiefs-Saints, but the Chiefs never got the ball in OT so we never got to see that one play out. Instead we got the most boring Super Bowl anyone's ever seen.

[@Krushking99]

@@dominicpancella3012 The super bowl that does not exist, tom brady has 1 less ring

[@DeosPraetorian]

nola had the ball 1st in OT and lost

[@kevinstanhope9724]

I remember reading his memoir “coming back stronger” as a kid which made me a low key Saints fan

[@kassondraaleman8993]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6uzf2dnoN-GjZY

[@incognegro7385]

Been a Saints fan my whole life. What’s crazy is that drew has is statistically one of the best to ever play the game but has always been overshadowed by others. He couldn’t win rings because our defense was trash most of his career and he should have at least two more MVPs but he lost due to the hype. He never gave up though, playing his last games with broken ribs and a torn shoulder

[@chrissao_502]

Big fax

[@kirillsniff9133]

all fax, no printer

[@voiceofreason2674]

Rodgers getting that MVP in 2011 was Bogus it was just cuz they beat us week 1. The packers were just running the same McCarthy 4 verticals offense the Saints had run with McCarthy and Aaron Brooks. Brees was out there calling everything in 2011 running the greatest offense of all time. He shoulda got MVP that year

[@fortynights1513]

Drew Brees had an excellent career for himself. He might not have gotten every accolade he should’ve. Some say he should’ve won the MVP in 2009, some could argue that he could have gotten more than one first team all pro and four second team selections. But at the end of the day, he’ll be a Hall of Famer, and likely by consensus on the first ballot, so there’s that.

[@dominicpancella3012]

He was 2nd place in MVP voting 4 times: in 2006 to LaDainian Tomlinson, in 2009 to Peyton Manning, in 2011 to Aaron Rodgers (the year of the quarterback), and in 2018 to Patrick Mahomes as a 39-year-old. I think it's safe to say he probably should have won at least one, maybe two of those times. I'm personally surprised he only ever made one all-pro 1st team, with all the times he led the league in everything.

[@fortynights1513]

@@dominicpancella3012 At least one of those second teams should probably be a first team all pro, and if you wanted to give the MVP to the top quarterback, then he gets it in 2009 in my opinion.

[@bangaamen501]

Y'all have really been knocking it out the park with this series it's interesting to remember the retrospectives of players before they hit their pinnacles and after

[@deucemcallister13]

That's my GOAT, man. Forever grateful for what he brought to our team and our city.

[@williammccormick984]

Brady ended his career and always owned him. That's a real GOAT.

[@deucemcallister13]

@@williammccormick984 ...Drew is 5-2 vs. Brady in head-to-head games.

[@williammccormick984]

@@deucemcallister13 7 rings to 1. Your counter argument is irrelevant.

[@Channel-23s]

@@deucemcallister13 more like 5-4 with the playoff win and he got very lucky with Tom being at Tampa in his first year and drew retired knowing he couldn’t play good anymore Tom is now 6-5 vs the saints Tom is 1-0 vs drew in the postseason

[@Channel-23s]

@@deucemcallister13 drew is no GOAT he’s top 5-6 but not top 3 it goes Tom Joe Peyton Aaron and Mahomes might even beat drew having more MVPs and probably more SBS too Brett Favre is a possibility too 1 ring 2 SB appearances 3 consecutive MVPs

[@joshuapatrick682]

Those of us who grew up without hope as lifelong Saints fans because were were simply from Louisiana thank that Miami doctor, and we all still remember where we were when the Saints beat the Colts that faithful day.

[@alexdrake9445]

Amen brother it was glorious watching brees give us that super bowl win.

[@austinemms9772]

Drew Brees: San Diego Chargers Legend.

[@fortynights1513]

His Charger years outside of 04 weren’t that amazing, but that’s just my opinion. Still a fascinating starting point regardless.

[@MAAngeloJr]

Drew Brees: The San Diego Chargers Legendary Choice to Never Win a Super Bowl Ring. What a 30 for 30 that would make. I lived it in real life being a Saints fan.

[@GorillaRadio88]

@@MAAngeloJr QB play was never an issue in SD after Brees left. They didn’t win a SB with Rivers because of other problems with the team.

[@HipsterShiningArmor]

@@GorillaRadio88 yeah, as interesting as it is to imagine a hypothetical scenario of what might have been had Brees stayed in San Diego, in the post-Brees era QB is basically the one position the Chargers have always been pretty good at.

[@MAAngeloJr]

@@GorillaRadio88 You are correct but Brees did very much have to overcome having terrible defenses in New Orleans and non-nationally known receivers. The difference will always be the ring Brees has that Rivers doesn't.

[@mitchcase7829]

As a colts fan it hurt losing that Super Bowl in 2010 but after seeing what he had to go through to get there, I tip my hat to you Mr Brees you earned it

[@Rubberfooted]

That Brees memoir, Coming Back Stronger, is a fantastic read and highly recommended for anyone who’s further interested in this great story.

[@NewWorldCT]

my father every football weekend for my entire life watched the saints. the night we won the SB, he had never been happier. drew brought happiness and joy to the entire southern gulf area. he will never be forgotten.

[@okjoe1578]

as a saints fan this made me cry. reliving drew’s career in new orleans always gets me emotional

[@alexdrake9445]

drew brees will forever be a louisiana legend. people here in louisiana treat him like a god. he brought together our state after years of disaster & struggle & he will forever be immortalized. i love brees, we literally grew up watching drew & the saints & it’s crazy to see how the saints have ended up in the post brees-payton era.

[@Drewpski9]

my mom went to purdue and went to the rose bowl when purdue went in 2001. I was born shortly there after and Was named Drew. I live by this man and idolize him.

[@removedot]

Is he your real dad?

[@slimmawick9979]

@@removedotcmon man😭😭😭

[@willtreasure7029]

Clara always nails the narration! It's always a pleasure to listen to her, her passion and knowledge really shows through. And I love her dry delivery... She's so good, every time.

[@simon_carrick8198]

Drew Brees has the uncanny ability to be incredibly consistent at a just-under MVP level every season, but have all of his seasons where he *does* cross that threshold be ones where other legends put up *slightly* better ones

[@anthonyharraden4709]

First year ever playing fantasy football I drafted Drew Brees and it was the year he won the SB. I knew he was one pass away from Marinos record the year before and that’s about it. So I drafted him pretty high tho 🤷‍♂️. Oh well, he gave me incredible numbers.

[@floatingfacedown9691]

incredible how consistently well-written content is on this channel. love the stuff y'all do over here. i don't think there's another channel that writes features on sports as articulate as secret base does right now.

[@Bakerman2801]

I can't wait for the Stetson Bennett prism episode in a couple of years. Regardless of whether he works out in (or even gets to) the NFL, there's already enough to write an entire episode on his story

[@charlesconner9044]

That dude is Georgia LEGEND. He may not have been as talented as other UGA QBs, but man that dude possibly solidified himself as the best UGA QB ever

[@Bakerman2801]

@Charles Conner I totally agree! I hope UGA retires his number 13 one day. He's definitely earned that honor

[@spencerludman3915]

Yeah they don’t do a lot of college great’s profiles. I wish they would

[@charlesconner9044]

@@Bakerman2801 He led them to two straight Nattys after 40 plus year drought, oh most definitely he needs his jersey number retired. No one should ever wear 13 again at UGA

[@charlesconner9044]

@@spencerludman3915 Stetson Bennett and other college stars should get Prism episodes. There are some college athletes that are worthy

[@EdmacZ]

Had Drew Brees. Let him go. Fires Marty Schottenheimer after a 14-2 season. Peak Chargers.

[@jrad410]

He woulda been even greater if he was 6-4. The saints from 2017-2020 just got incredibly unlucky. Minn Miracle, Nola No call, wildcard despite a 13-3 record in 2019, lost because Brady’s comes to the NFC.

[@jab1289]

The late Jack Elway (John's Dad) was a scout with the Broncos in 2001. He told them to take Brees in Round 1, but he died before the draft, and Shanahan ignored him.

[@HipsterShiningArmor]

in case anyone's wondering who the Broncos took instead, it was a CB named Willie Middlebrooks who started 2 whole games in his entire NFL career. Their starting QB at the time was Brian Griese, who wasn't a complete hack but also wasn't really good enough to stick around. So yeah it definitely would've behooved the Broncos to have taken Brees (or at least Reggie Wayne).

[@jab1289]

@@HipsterShiningArmor Wayne would have been good (Ed McCaffrey only played to 2003). I also remember wanting an offensive lineman, but there really wasn't anyone that great to take. Brees should have been the pick all the way.

[@uncreative5766]

I was 10 in 2004, and that year was the first concrete memory I have of sports in general. It's always inspiring and eye-opening to learn that life was never just rosy and good vibes for Drew. It helped me to embrace adversity.

[@cdog-gd3df]

PRISM!! I've been loving this series! Any Rewinder potential with Luka's Bubble Buzzer Beater?

[@OP43e]

Never give up!! Great job of telling this story SB

[@charleyarrigo]

One of my favorite comeback stories. Particularly magical for what the city of New Orleans went through at that time. Brees was an embodiment of that resilient spirit.

[@GiantPopIts89]

Great video! I absolutely love your channel. Keep up the good work!!

[@griffinhays2053]

Going back out after separating a shoulder and that being the moment things clicked is like something out of a movie script. Just crazy

[@NorthernKnights]

I know the sbnation site and secret base channel are separate, but I hope you guys swill continue to make hockey videos (in light of the blog shutdowns)

[@tim.noonan]

That’s SB Nation recognizing they can’t continue to use unpaid labor to support their ‘website’, and taking their ball and leaving instead of working with their ‘employees’. Why do you think SBN employees are trying to unionize?

[@ClarenceBeeks64]

I don't even watch Hockey but always been intrigued by the history and lore of the game from those channels.

[@Wil_lyp]

As a Saints fan, thank you for making this video. It’s so unfortunate that Drew never unlocked his full potential throughout his career. If we have had a defense when he was striding, he would’ve won about 2 or 3 rings about now. Love Drew Bree’s forever. WHO DAT! ⚜️

[@al-nur999]

Secret Base is one of the best documentary sports channels in YT. Criminally underrated 🔥

[@metaljay77]

Love this series. There are so many forgotten backstories of players that just never come to light. I've seen so much about The Saban/Dolphins side of this but I haven't seen much about Brees getting to that point, until now.

[@Watchingvideoslikeu]

We don’t know if Drew Brees would’ve been good on the Dolphins. He was a below average starter to ok starter for the chargers and he had plenty of offensive and defensive weapons on that Chargers team. So to assume he becomes the legend he is today without Sean Payton

[@BradK4444]

It still weirds me out that people say six feet tall is short in any context.

[@ghosttoast8610]

Even worse if you watch episodes about the nba

[@FunkyHonkyCDXX]

I love this series so much

[@producerfav1974]

As a New Orleans native and a die hard Saints fan I really enjoyed this video!

[@GabrielGarcia-zg2cq]

I became a saints fan in 2013 partly because of drew brees and even after that I’m a true New Orleans fan still.

[@borsk9175]

Man I love this guy

[@apathy125]

I remember this at the time and everyone saying it was such a great decision to let Brees go, and I had some seriously intense arguments with people about how he will come back and be just fine. Never thought he would hit the level he eventually got to, but I never doubted his potential for greatness.

[@MrTUBEular10]

Solid as always.

[@YaBoiZackbannedmefordissent]

"...and a dark stormy cloud for Drew Brees. And there's lightning coming out of the cloud. And it's setting Drew's stuff on fire. And he's choking on the smoke." I am dead, Clara has killed me.

[@eric6504]

Nice vid! Wild music too compared to usual lol, I dig it

[@KeegoTheWise]

0:53 i choose to believe that being less than 6’ is the reason i never played college or pro football. it’s definitely that, and not my bad vision, low vo2 max, or the fact that i’ve never played organized football in my life. definitely the height thing

[@josephdegroot3946]

Every time a video drops I’m in hopes that Clara is presiding. I thoroughly enjoy Seth’s presentation as well but Clara is obviously the most gifted writer and narrator on staff. Please satiate her needs and maintain your best contributor.

[@gatormansmith1999]

Ms Morris❤ great job

[@trout_tf2]

Drew Brees will always be our 🐐 ⚜️⚜️⚜️

[@starlmo]

Much respect from Carolina

[@danielriccardo6592]

Growing up in tampa is was hard watching him shred up the bucs . Great episode

[@savageblackfish5117]

I hope there's a part 2!

[@Observeman24]

The first Super Bowl I watched was the Saints vs Colts. It’s crazy to see how Brees kept getting chances and eventually proved himself a HOFer.

[@MC_Tickle]

Really love how much Clara has come into her own here. Used to be real skeptical and now I love her

[@TheGammingPie]

Drew breese is just.... My god he was my fav player outside of brady and im sooo glad he one a super bowl and sad at the same time that he didnt win more... :c

[@cameronjuntti4749]

Seeing this video drop as I’m getting a notification the Broncos are getting Sean Payton has me bümmed as a saints fan

[@agrofindastation]

As a former San Diego Chargers fan, watching Drew win was just Lance Alworth all over again.

[@drewburesh386]

I freaking love this guy

[@omarinthegamelittle3947]

These are the best videos on KZbin

[@KelseyGriffin27]

My favorite player of all time. Drew Breesus!

[@mkz2017]

Drinking game: watch a Saints game in the 00’s and take a shot every time they mention Katrina… ..Blackout drunk by halftime

[@trey710]

if you include the year Bush was dating Kim Kardashians name mentioned, your out well before the 2nd quarter

[@kitchenerleslie8388]

Great timing

[@kevinwalker3517]

Miss watching him play

[@Weavileiscool]

This guy made me a Saints fan and I love him

[@DrumBum561]

I've been watching football since I was about 7. I've never seen someone throw a prettier football than Brees. It's what I think of when I hear someone say "that was a perfect throw".

[@markjackson6431]

BEEF HISTORY: ERIC LINDROS VS FLYERS ORGANIZATION

[@fikipilot]

Clara, good game!

[@ccselmo9363]

Greatest of all time in my book

[@DSPIRACY]

another secret base W

[@BingusBunger]

The king Bree's finally getting some respect

[@plug2power695]

Deadly accurate. Most dangerous QB I've ever seen. Period.

[@jeremyseaton3314]

Brees to NO instead of Miami set off the biggest domino effect in sports that I can think of. Not only did it forever change the trajectory of both teams, but Nick Saban wouldn't have built the powerhouse that is Alabama, and completely changed the NCAA landscape.

[@godblesstrolls]

people with things on their faces really love this guy

[@sdpuffy_]

favorite player of all time

[@jja5220]

Yo @SecretBaseSBN, you have this video in your Basketball playlist

[@e93sports80]

It's a shame he never won another Super Bowl.

[@KD555]

An underrated all-time great. I'm not a Saints fan, but their ring was the most satisfying of this millennium. They were robbed of more, but at least they won that one. P.S. doesn't Clara sound a bit like Suzy Kolber here?

[@cows543]

Oh yeah one of Purdue’s first mentions on Secret Base let’s gooooo

[@kapowjam3462]

Good night and good game

[@jamesniemi5741]

Dawg imma saints fan this guy made me happy and now I’m mad depressed

[@axg5929]

as a tua and dolphins fan this really gives me hope. you can only hope. i’m not saying he’s gonna be another drew brees but the amount of hate he gets is insane.

[@Sup-zv3tz]

Can you bring back untitled for like phillip rivers ? Really like that series

[@thomassantana3750]

My dawg

[@ilovedarian_5153]

THE GOATTT

[@spagett1670]

It’s really hard to explain to someone who wasn’t in New Orleans at the time just important Drew Brees and Sean Payton were to the city. Katrina was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trauma for the people of New Orleans. Drew Brees and the Saints did more for city morale and hope of recovery than the actual government was willing to. It felt like we had been completely abandoned, and the only people who still believed in the city were all on a football team together. It sounds ridiculous in retrospect, but that Super Bowl 44 win really felt like the result of the work of all the people who stayed and helped rebuild the city, just as much as the actual Saints themselves. I don’t remember a single person being sober for the next week lmao

[@philv2099]

I started watching ball in 05 and he beat the 13-0 colts. I didnt know all of his story between Flutie and Rivers tho so thank you.

[@jonrainbow123]

Man its hard to watch anything Brees now. Its like losing a close relative after he retired. We thought we could make it work and now we're all talking about the second coming of the Aints. Its so impossible to get talent like that again.

[@mattyice1226]

I was born in 2002 he was my fav childhood qb and I’m not even a Saints fan

[@justineebourgeois3420]

True 🐐

[@bortsampson]

Saints legend Miss that guy

[@caseyledoux1944]

Brees will always be my goat

[@jamespusey7186]

if he had a few rings he'd be in the (2nd place) GOAT conversation

[@Toosii2times]

Drew Brees is one of my favorite QBs of all time

[@hooverredman5167]

The GOAT btw I’m saints fan

[@charlesconner9044]

For the future, Eli Manning would make a very good Prism episode. Along with Tony Romo