Purdue Hires Drew Brees as an Assistant for their Bowl Game
Well, it looks like a familiar face is headed back to West Layfette, Indiana. Drew Brees has been hired by Purdue as an interim assistant coach ahead of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. Brees will work on the field with players and also participate in recruiting.
“I am extremely excited to work with our team over the next few weeks as we prepare for the Citrus Bowl,” Brees said in a Thursday press release. “I see it not only as an opportunity to coach and mentor this group of young men, but represent all the former Purdue players that care so much about our program. This is also preparation for the future of Purdue Football with new head coach Ryan Walters. I had a great conversation with Coach Walters last night, and love the energy, passion and detail he will bring to our program. The future is bright, and there is no better time to be a Boilermaker!”
Before being selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 32nd pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, Brees was the Boilermakers’ quarterback from 1998-2000. While at Purdue, Brees totaled 11,792 passing yards with 90 passing touchdowns. Brees is still the career leader in passing yards within the Big Ten and fourth in career passing touchdowns, only behind a trio of Ohio State quarterbacks in Dwayne Haskins, C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields.
After a 20-year career in the NFL, Brees has been an analyst for NBC Sports. During his professional career, Brees won one Super Bowl with the Saints in 2009. He is also a 13-time Pro Bowler and won NFL Offensive Player of the Year twice. Brees is second all-time in passing yards and touchdowns with 80,358 yards and 571 touchdowns, only behind Tom Brady.
Purdue has currently seen a lot of change recently. Former head coach Jeff Brohm left to become the head coach at Louisville. Purdue then replaced Brohm with former Illinois defensive coordinator, Ryan Walters. Walters is the fifth youngest head coach in FBS at 36 years old. Besides a two-year pitstop at Illinois, Walters was a defensive coordinator at Missouri from 2016-2020.
“When I first heard about Drew coming back to help coach our guys for the bowl game, I was hoping the rumors were true,” Walters said. “Our players have the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest leaders in football history, a valuable experience that they will never forget. Drew taking time out of his busy schedule to coach the bowl game is a perfect example of Purdue football being one big family, and I cannot wait to see him on the sidelines in Orlando.”
With Brees now an interim assistant, it’ll be interesting to see where it takes him in the future.
Purdue will be without some of its top players ahead of its bowl game. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell has opted not to play in the bowl game and has declared for the NFL Draft. Wide receiver Charlie Jones and tight end Payne Durham have also declared for the Draft and won’t suit up. The 8-5 Boilermakers will take on LSU on Jan. 2, 2023, at 1 p.m. EST. It is unclear if Brees will continue to coach with Purdue after their bowl game.
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