In a season that most fans only remember for a playoff loss to a hated rival, New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees set the NFL record for the most passing yards in a season. A year later, Brees set the NFL record for most consecutive games with a TD pass. It would truly be a daunting task to write an article listing all of Drew Brees’ NFL records.
However, there is one hallowed NFL record that Drew Brees has not yet attained. Although records don’t hold sway in the NFL like they do in baseball, there is one mark that stands above all others for quarterbacks. That record is NFL career passing yards, currently held by Brett Favre.
When I researched this NFL record, I was surprised at how close Drew Brees was. The reason for my surprise was that Brees had a hard time finding the field early in his career with the San Diego Chargers. It is a testament to his production in New Orleans that Brees currently ranks eighth with 45,523 NFL career passing yards.
Barring injury, Brees will climb several rungs on this ladder in 2013. If Drew Brees even has an average year of 4,000 passing yards for the Saints next year, he will move past Vinny Testaverde, Fran Tarkenton, and Warren Moon into the top five. Brees trails the fourth-ranked passer, John Elway, by approximately 6,000 yards.
Brett Favre’s 71,838 NFL career passing yards seems like a daunting number. But Brees’ main competition may come from an active QB. Peyton Manning has 59,138 career passing yards and he is showing no signs of slowing down. Maybe if Manning wins a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos he’ll retire before breaking the record.
If Drew Brees retires at the end of his five-year contract, I don’t think he can break the record. He would need to keep playing at a high level and choose to continue his NFL career after his current contract expires. I can only hope that he doesn’t become a wandering nomad like Brett Favre did at the end of his NFL career.
Drew Brees is already the greatest QB in New Orleans Saints’ history. Breaking the record as the leader in career passing yards would cement his claim to being the greatest QB in NFL history.
Patrick Michael lives in New Orleans and has always been a big fan of the New Orleans Saints. Patrick’s favorite Saints season was 2009 when New Orleans won Super Bowl 44. Follow Patrick Michael on Twitter atpatmichael84.
