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 Former Purdue Star Drew Brees Leads Saints To Super Bowl.
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Drew Brees will be the third QB from Purdue to play on Super Sunday, he has already cemented his mark as on of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. He led the most exciting offense in the league this season to get the New Orleans Saints their first Super Bowl trip in their history.
Brees was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 1999 and 2000. He is Purdue University's all-time leader in passing yards (11,792), touchdowns (90), total offensive yards (12,693), completion percentage (.611), completions (1,026) and attempts (1,678). Drafted 32nd overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2001 NFL draft.
He was even honored by the Congressional Award in Washington, DC on June 19, 2008 with the Horizon Award. The Horizon Award is a special recognition from the Joint Leadership of the United States Congress and the Congressional Award Board of Directors. The Horizon Award is presented to individuals from the private sectors who have contributed to expanding opportunities for all Americans through their own personal contributions, and who have set exceptional examples for young people through their successes in life.
Brees is not the only Purdue signal caller making the trip to Miami, but he will probably be the only one seeing playing time. Colts backup QB Curtis Painter is also a Purdue Grad.
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 Colts Backup QB Curtis Painter.
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Purdue has had 17 former players in the Big Game in their History, some of them had a significant impact.
The Saints’ Drew Brees and the Colts’ Curtis Painter, this year’s Purdue representatives at the Super Bowl, find themselves in good company. Former Boilermakers have played in the Super Bowl every year for the past 10 years, and there has been a Boiler on eight of the past 10 winning teams. In total, 29 Purdue alums have or will have been to a Super Bowl.
Legendary Purdue and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott said that his tenure at Purdue was instrumental to his on- and off-field development. Alstott was a key player in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl XXXVII win.
