Purdue’s most famous football player ever, Drew Brees, is temporarily joining the team’s coaching staff ahead of its bowl game.
Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger reported Thursday morning that Purdue was hiring Brees as an interim assistant, and that Brees wanted to help his alma mater during a challenging period ahead of its Citrus Bowl meeting with LSU.
The report became official within 10 minutes.
Along with helping the team get ready for LSU, Brees will be able to assist Purdue in recruiting thanks to an NCAA waiver. Having a quarterback that is almost guaranteed to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he’s eligible is a solid recruiting tool. Brees is best known to most sports fans for his 20-season NFL career, particularly the 15 seasons he spent with the New Orleans Saints.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Brees ended his career with NFL records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions and consecutive games with a touchdown pass (54), among other stats. Before his NFL career, Brees played at Purdue from 1997-2000. The highlight of his college career came in his last season, when Brees led the Boilers to just their second-ever Rose Bowl appearance. He won the Maxwell Award that season, which recognizes America’s most outstanding college football player.
At a school knows as “The Cradle of Quarterbacks,” Brees is the most notable one. He ended his time at Purdue with a bunch of passing records, including passing yards, passing attempts, completions and touchdowns.
Now, Brees will look to help Purdue through a transition. Coach Jeff Brohm left Purdue earlier this month to return to his alma mater, Louisville. Earlier this week, Purdue hired Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters to be its next coach. For this Citrus Bowl, Jeff Brohm’s brother, Brian, will coach Purdue. He worked under his brother as Purdue’s offensive coordinator.
