By Dean Michaels, NFL Writer

Drew Brees
Drew Brees

Last year, New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl quarterback DREW BREES (left) reached numerous milestones as he posted one of the greatest passing seasons in NFL history and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press.

Brees set single-season league records for passing yards (5,476), completions (468), completion percentage (71.2), 300-yard passing games (13) and consecutive 300-yard passing games (seven).

"I obviously take a lot of pride in what I do on the football field, because that has the ability to influence a lot of people," says Brees. "That puts smiles on people's faces. That gives people a pep in their step on Monday morning when they go back to work. That does so much for the city. We have the greatest fans in the world. There's no doubt about that. I think each and every day about what can I do to make my team better, make my city better, that's my mentality."

Brees passed for 5,476 yards last year and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO's single-season record (5,084), which was set in 1984.

"I love our fans, I love the fact that everybody could be a part of this on Monday Night Football," Brees said after setting the record. "There are so many people that are a part of this. It's not about me, it's about this team, it's about this city, it's about these fans. So many people contributed to this and I'm happy for all of them."

Most Passing Yards, Single Season

Quarterback Team Season Total
Source: NFL
Drew BreesNew Orleans20115,476
Tom BradyNew England20115,235
Dan MarinoMiami19845,084
Drew BreesNew Orleans20085,069
Matthew StaffordDetroit20115,038

 

Along the way, Drew Brees notched 13 300-yard passing games -- the most ever in a single season -- and an NFL-record seven consecutive 300-yard passing games (active streak).

"Drew Brees is good all over the field," says NFL Network analyst and former head coach STEVE MARIUCCI. "He's got it all. Not just physical skills, but he's got a good group of receivers and backs that have good hands and can get the yards after the catch."

Most 300-Yard Pass Games

Quarterback Team Year Games
Source: NFL
Drew BreesNew Orleans201113
Tom BradyNew England201111
Rich GannonOakland200210
Drew BreesNew Orleans200810

 

Single Season Most Consecutive 300-Yard Pass Games

Quarterback Team Year Streak
Source: NFL *Active streak
Drew BreesNew Orleans20117*
Steve YoungSan Francisco19986
Kurt WarnerSt. Louis20006
Rich GannonOakland20026

 

Drew Brees also set single-season records for completions and completion percentage. Among the individual seasons with the most completions, he holds three of the top four marks. Brees also holds the top two seasons in NFL history with the highest completion percentage.

Most Completions, Single Season

Quarterback Year Team Comp.
Source: NFL
Drew BreesNew Orleans2011468
Peyton ManningIndianapolis2010450
Drew BreesNew Orleans2010448
Drew BreesNew Orleans2007440
Matthew StaffordDetroit2011421

 

Highest Completion Percentage, Single Season

Quarterback Team Year Comp. Pct.
Source: NFL
Drew BreesNew Orleans201171.23
Drew BreesNew Orleans200970.62
Ken AndersonCincinnati198270.55
Sammy BaughWashington194570.33
Steve YoungSan Francisco199470.28

 

Drew Brees has thrown a touchdown pass in 43 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in NFL history. He trails Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHNNY UNITAS, who passed for a touchdown in an NFL-record 47 games in a row.

Most Consecutive Games With TD Pass

Quarterback Team Years Streak
Source: NFL *Active streak
Johnny UnitasBaltimore Colts1956-6047
Drew BreesNew Orleans2009-1143*
Brett FavreGreen Bay2002-0436

Saints QB Drew Brees - NFL's Best Players 2012