By Dean Michaels, NFL Writer
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 Brees | New Orleans | 2011 | 5,476 |
Tom Brady | New England | 2011 | 5,235 |
Dan Marino | Miami | 1984 | 5,084 |
Drew Brees | New Orleans | 2008 | 5,069 |
Matthew Stafford | Detroit | 2011 | 5,038 |
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 Brees | New Orleans | 2011 | 13 |
Tom Brady | New England | 2011 | 11 |
Rich Gannon | Oakland | 2002 | 10 |
Drew Brees | New Orleans | 2008 | 10 |
Single Season Most Consecutive 300-Yard Pass Games
Quarterback | Team | Year | Streak |
---|---|---|---|
Source: NFL *Active streak | |||
Drew Brees | New Orleans | 2011 | 7* |
Steve Young | San Francisco | 1998 | 6 |
Kurt Warner | St. Louis | 2000 | 6 |
Rich Gannon | Oakland | 2002 | 6 |
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 Brees | New Orleans | 2011 | 468 |
Peyton Manning | Indianapolis | 2010 | 450 |
Drew Brees | New Orleans | 2010 | 448 |
Drew Brees | New Orleans | 2007 | 440 |
Matthew Stafford | Detroit | 2011 | 421 |
Highest Completion Percentage, Single Season
Quarterback | Team | Year | Comp. Pct. |
---|---|---|---|
Source: NFL | |||
Drew Brees | New Orleans | 2011 | 71.23 |
Drew Brees | New Orleans | 2009 | 70.62 |
Ken Anderson | Cincinnati | 1982 | 70.55 |
Sammy Baugh | Washington | 1945 | 70.33 |
Steve Young | San Francisco | 1994 | 70.28 |
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 Unitas | Baltimore Colts | 1956-60 | 47 |
Drew Brees | New Orleans | 2009-11 | 43* |
Brett Favre | Green Bay | 2002-04 | 36 |
BASEBALL | BASKETBALL | COLLEGES | FOOTBALL | GOLF | HOCKEY | OLYMPICS | SOCCER | TENNIS
Receive our NFL News & Analysis by email by subscribing here
NFL Super Bowl History
NFL Super Bowl History, Scores, Summaries & Super Bowl MVP Articles
Saints QB Drew Brees - NFL's Best Players 2012