This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/6/2017
In an era with the most prolific quarterbacks in NFL history, Drew Brees stands tall among the all-time greats that share a generation with him. Brees holds numerous NFL records, including highest completion percentage in league history at 66.7% and the most consecutive games with a touchdown pass at 54 straight games. Selected by the San Diego Chargers with the first pick of the second round in the 2001 NFL Draft, Brees and his fellow rookie LaDanian Tomlinson entered the league with high expectations. Although Brees spent his rookie year on the bench learning from established veteran Doug Flutie, he exploded in his second season to the tune of 3,284 passing yards and 17 touchdowns while leading a defensively flexible Chargers squad to an 8-8 record.
The San Diego defense regressed heavily in 2003, allowing 441 points in their 16 contests, the second-highest mark in the league that season. Perhaps unfairly, Brees took a seat on the bench for a few games midseason, allowing Flutie a chance to right the Chargers’ ship. Once Brees was reinserted into the starting lineup, the Chargers offense began to round into form once more, finishing the season with a handy 21-14 clinical victory over their division rival Oakland Raiders.
Brees and the Chargers improved mightily in 2004 and 2005, with the former Boilermaker quarterback leading the Chargers to their first playoff appearance in years in ’04 and throwing for a career high 3,576 yards in ’05. At the end of the ’05 season, Brees left San Diego for a rebuilding project in New Orleans, where he truly blossomed into a Hall of Fame player. Brees began a remarkable streak in 2006 of 11 straight seasons with over 4,300 yards passing, including an incredible 2011 season when he threw for 5,476 yards and a staggering 46 scores.
His most indelible moment with the Saints came at the end of the 2009 season, when he led the long-struggling Saints to the first Super Bowl victory in franchise history. His MVP performance spurred the Saints to victory in Super Bowl XLIV against Peyton Manning and the Colts by a score of 31-17, adding a championship to one of the game’s great legacies.
Brees wore this navy blue Chargers’ jersey in three games during the 2003 season. The first game, a 37-13 loss to the Denver Broncos, took place during Week 2 of the 2003 season. Although Brees passed for nearly 200 yards with a touchdown, his defense succumbed to the two-headed passing attack of Denver quarterbacks Steve Beuerlein and Jake “The Snake” Plummer.
The second game in which Brees wore this jersey took place on October 27th, 2003. Due to wildfires in the San Diego area, this game was relocated to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The change in location did not help the San Diego defense, as they allowed the Miami Dolphins to score 26 points in a 16 point defeat for the nominal home team. Brees was uncharacteristically inaccurate, throwing three interceptions in a game where his primary targets were neutralized by the Miami defensive backs, anchored by Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison.
The final game in which Brees wore this jersey was a 42-28 home victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Although Brees did not play in this game, he suited up and patrolled the sidelines in case Flutie could not get the job done. This jersey is navy blue, with a football shaped “JB” patch on the left chest to honor former GM John Butler. Brees’ number nine is sewn on the front, back, and shoulders in white, navy, and yellow tackle twill. “BREES” is sewn across the back shoulders in white tackle twill above a navy blue nameplate. White, navy, and yellow tackle twill lightning bolts are sewn on the shoulders above white Reebok logos. A “03-50 S” tag is sewn on the back inside collar. A Reebok NFL Equipment tag is sewn on the front left tail of the jersey. “6[inch] L.B.” and “50” flags are sewn on the tag. This jersey shows good evidence of use. Brees signed the nine on the back in black marker. He added his number “9” to his signature. This item comes with a LOA from the MeiGray Group (154215) which includes a photo matched of the jersey.