Coming Back Stronger

by Drew Brees

  One of my best friends from the team is Billy Miller, a tight end from USC who was drafted by the Broncos in 1999. At six foot three and 220 pounds then, Billy started off as a receiver but soon realized that his best chance to make it in the NFL would be to bulk up and play tight end. He played in Denver, Houston, and Cleveland before coming to New Orleans, and with each move he had to fight to claim a place on the team. There were plenty of times throughout his career when he could have easily given up because the pressure was too much or the coach was too hard or the injury he was fighting was too painful. But each time he went through such an ordeal, he looked back at all he’d been through in the past. Experience told him he had what it took to pull through again. Plus, Billy made sure there were a few specific things he had mastered that he could do better than anyone else. Don’t get me wrong—he worked to be good at everything, but he made sure that those were his plays and his opportunity to contribute to the team in a big way. Those pass plays of his became our bread and butter, and I have never had more confidence throwing to a guy.

  As I look at the players who make it into the NFL and last more than a couple of years, I notice a consistent thread. It’s not always the first-round picks and the most naturally gifted players who rise to the top. It’s often the journeymen—the ones who persevere through trials and are able to handle the unexpected challenges that come their way.

  When I was a kid, I tended to be the best athlete at school or on the team. I was picked first for dodgeball or kickball or whatever we were playing in the schoolyard. Even in high school, things came fairly easily for me . . . until the ACL injury my junior year, that is. But in a strange way, I am actually thankful for that injury, in that it allowed me to learn how to face adversity at a young age. Would I quit, or would I fight through it? From my perspective, it’s when the rug gets pulled out from under you that you really find your calling in life. Those defining moments don’t have to be tragedies. When they’re viewed through the lens of God’s plans, they can be “points of purpose” in your life.

  I really believe adversity is a path to opportunity. But sometimes it’s difficult in the moment to see that God has a bigger vision for the future than you can grasp. It may be years before you can look back and truly appreciate the journey God has taken you on. And usually, it’s one you wouldn’t have chosen. I wouldn’t have chosen an ACL injury or a dislocated throwing shoulder, but those were the cards that were dealt. The only choice I did have was what I would do with that adversity when it came my direction. I also learned that despite the circumstances you find yourself in, it’s wise to worry only about the things you can control. You can’t control if you get injured or if the team decides to draft someone else to take your job, but you can control your attitude and your preparation. Every day you can dedicate yourself to becoming the best you can be. Thinking about it now, I’m grateful for the way those difficult experiences transformed my personal life—and how the same thing can be true for other people.

  Sometimes I wonder what might have happened if I hadn’t had that injury at the end of the 2005 season. If I hadn’t had to walk that road of recovery, I certainly wouldn’t have wound up in New Orleans and experienced the real life that sprang from that comeback. I wouldn’t have met the folks who are now my friends and teammates in New Orleans or had so many incredible opportunities that have come my way. And if I hadn’t had the injury in high school, I probably wouldn’t have attended Purdue and I wouldn’t have met Brittany. God used all those things to work together for good in my life, and I’m grateful not just for the victories but also for the tough times that guided me and helped me become who I am.

  This principle that any situation, no matter how bad, can ultimately make you stronger isn’t only true on the football field. It applies to every facet of life, whether you’re battling an illness or dealing with a layoff or facing a financial setback. But just like in a game, it’s not enough to simply know it in your head; you have to take action. Knowledge alone doesn’t change anyone. You have to get to the point where you not only accept it but own it and put it into practice. That’s the only way you’ll see a change.

  I can’t help but think of the people from New Orleans who were displaced by Katrina. It would have been easier for them to move to Atlanta or Houston long-term. But most people refused to do that. They came back, and they were determined to bring their city back. No matter how hard it was, they committed to making New Orleans better than it was before. I believe each one of us has a calling for our lives, and it’s up to us to pursue that with everything we have. In the end, there’s a reward for having done the right thing, the thing you were called to. When you do, your children and grandchildren and the generations to follow will be blessed by your actions.

  Just about every important stage in my life has begun with a huge negative. Those were truly “why me” moments. Why do I have to go through this? Now I know that I am who I am because of those things. They gave me strength I didn’t have before. They helped me establish my identity and purpose in life, and they gave me perspective about the struggles that people face every day.

  The next time you’re up against one of those difficult times, you might not be able to see it as an opportunity to gain power and confidence, but it is—you can bank on it. You have to prepare now to trust and have faith that it’s happening for a reason. And when it comes, you can lean into the adversity, put your shoulder down, push through it, and learn from it. Through those experiences, God will mold you into the person he wants you to be. The person you’re meant to be.

  Setting an Example

  To my surprise, some of those challenges in my life have been the very things God has used to make me a better leader. The low points have given me the chance to regroup and refocus on what’s most important. And those experiences have also given me empathy for others when they are going through a tough situation.

  Every team I’ve been on has taught me a lot about leadership—some examples I want to emulate and others I make a note to avoid. One principle I’ve learned is that a leader can’t ask anybody to do what he is not willing to do himself. As a quarterback, I know the guys on my team are looking to me to set the tone. For one thing, they want me to produce on the field. I touch the ball on every down and have to make the decision about who else is going to be involved in advancing the ball. My teammates are relying on me, and I have to be ready to play. But it’s not just about football. I also have a moral responsibility to model personal integrity, discipline, and the right attitude to the rest of my team. I have to manage my offense and breed confidence in those guys. If they see me getting flustered or pressed, that’s going to affect them negatively. They need to see me act cool and poised so they can do the same.

  From my vantage point, I can see things throughout a game that others might not, so I can be a teacher to the guys. But it’s not a one-way deal. They see things from their perspective that I miss, and I need to be humble enough to listen and learn. Part of a quarterback’s job is to both coach and be coached.

  Another thing I’ve learned about leadership is the importance of work ethic. Throughout the week of preparations before a game, I make it my goal to be one of the first ones to the practice facility in the morning and the last to leave. I stay late every day to practice my footwork, throw more routes, and talk through concepts with the receivers and coaches. That’s not heroic; it’s just part of the job. And it’s not for show. I know I always need to keep practicing and getting better and gaining more confidence. You are either getting better or getting worse, but you are never staying the same. When the guys observe that their quarterback is doing everything possible to help the team win and succeed, and when they realize he’s going to fight for them, they’ll play their hearts out for him. Leading by example is the only way I know how to lead.

  In my role as a quarterback I’ve found it helps to understand each of the guys on my team. Every player is different—and not just physically. Through practice
and trial and error, you discover how they’re most comfortable catching the ball. You also learn their mental and emotional makeup—how they respond to pressure, what pushes their buttons. You find out how they react when they miss an assignment or drop a pass. I also discovered early on that everyone is motivated in different ways. Some guys are spurred on when you get hyped up and loud and vocal, but others do better with a simple look or a nod. Other guys would rather have you pull them aside and talk with them in private.

  One aspect of leadership a lot of people overlook is the importance of showing how much you care. When other people see that you are genuinely concerned about them and truly invested in them, they’ll trust you. There’s no faking it, and there’s no amount of talent that can make up for the lack of it. When your teammates know that you have their best interest at heart, the by-product is that they’ll go out there and fight for you. They’ll win for you.

  Some people look at their home team and think, If only we had that free agent. If only our team could pay for that receiver or running back. I don’t waste time thinking about those kinds of acquisitions. If those players come to us, great. But here’s the way I look at it: I’ll take the less talented guy with the big heart every time. I love the old saying “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” Give me someone I can depend on so I know what I am getting every time, and I’ll show you a winner.

  As history has proven time and time again, the most gifted athletes are not necessarily the ones who win championships. There’s a hidden factor that burns deep inside a player that you can’t see on a stat sheet or a highlight reel. When a bigger, prototypical quarterback looks at me from the other side of the field or when the crowd looks down as I’m walking into the stadium, I sometimes try to visualize what they’re thinking. Maybe they assume I’m too short for my position or that there’s no way I can get the job done. In my heart I know I’m going to show them something. I’ve got to prove myself every time I step onto the field. I know how hard I’ve worked, and I know how many people believe in me. I want the guys on my team to know I believe in them too. Whenever we walk out onto the field, we can hold our heads high, silently saying, You all haven’t seen anything yet.

  A Call to Christian Athletes

  I am very proud of my faith. Being a Christian is who I am. I read the Word of God in the Bible every day, and I do my best to live out the teachings found inside. On a daily basis I ask God to show me his will and allow me to see the purposes he has for my life. Then I try to carry out those purposes in all I do. I also strive to live with a healthy fear of God. But don’t take this the wrong way. In my view, fearing God means you have so much love and respect for him that you don’t want to let him down and you would do anything to serve him. I believe that when you fear God, you don’t need to fear anything else—no man, no task, no obstacle or challenge. Because when God is with you, you can accomplish anything and overcome any obstacles.

  God has made every person unique, and although we are all different, he created each of us with the ability to achieve greatness. Of course, there are bumps along the way, and we will all face our share of adversity. This is what shapes us as people and as Christians and allows us to move forward stronger than we were before, ready to reach heights we never thought possible. Our faith is a constant work in progress, and the journey of a Christian is never finished on this earth. We always need to be working toward strengthening our bond with the Lord and improving our relationships with others.

  The challenge of a Christian athlete is to live the life that we preach and understand that we have been given a platform to make a positive impact in the lives of many people, especially kids. What bugs me more than anything else is seeing guys profess their faith on game day with a point to the sky while the cameras are rolling and then walk out of the locker room into a life of sin. I’m not saying we never make mistakes. We are all human, and therefore we are all sinners. Nobody is perfect. The Lord knows I have committed my fair share of sins and made some stupid decisions. But the key is to learn from those mistakes and commit to ourselves and to God that we will clean up our lives where necessary. As athletes, we live in an age of media where our every move is documented and scrutinized, and sometimes we feel like certain things we say or do are misconstrued or taken out of context. The national media usually focuses on athletes who make poor decisions, and therefore that becomes the general perception about athletes. Unfortunately the status quo does not sell papers, but drama and controversy do. As athletes, we must continue to fight that perception and show fans that the reality is different—that most of us take great responsibility in representing our communities and organizations the best we can. Football is one of those sports that has the ability to transcend just being a game or a form of entertainment to become a source of hope and pride for so many fans. We recognize this and constantly find ways to connect with those who make this game great—the fans.

  I believe that everybody deserves to have his or her own relationship with God. Yes, there are fundamental beliefs and values that are consistent for all Christians. But when it comes to our own individual walks with God, they are specific to each person. While I am not afraid to talk about my faith, I tend to be less outspoken than others might be. I think it’s great for other people to be more vocal—I love to see enthusiastic Christians who have the power of the Lord running through them. But that’s just not my personality.

  I want people to take Christ seriously, so I try not to treat him flippantly by throwing around some catchphrase or code words that only Christians will understand. I want people to see that my faith is authentic—not only in my words but also in the way I live my life. There are a lot of skeptics out there who get disillusioned when they see people who talk about God but don’t have the actions to back it up. My desire is that people will see me as a man of God who is genuinely trying to live out my faith with my wife, my son, my team, and the community I live and serve in. I also hope those who don’t know Christ will be able to look at the way Christian athletes carry themselves and see that they are making their lives define the game, rather than letting the game define their lives.

  Chapter Thirteen

  To Whom Much Is Given . . .

  One of the guiding principles in my life is from a parable of Jesus: “To whom much is given . . . much will be required.” In other words, if you have been blessed, it’s your responsibility to bless others with what you’ve been given. God hasn’t given those gifts just for your own good but for the good of others as well. Early in my football career I recognized the need to give back to the community. I see it as my responsibility, but also my privilege, to be generous with what God has entrusted to me.

  Over the years I’ve seen players become as passionate about their charity work as they are about football, and the common denominator seems to be that they have suffered through something difficult or experienced some loss in their own lives. One of my mentors and friends, Doug Flutie, is that type of guy. His son, Doug Jr., has autism, and Doug has made it his mission to raise awareness about the disorder and fund research to help those affected by it.

  For a long time Brittany and I had a desire to channel our giving and fund-raising to specific projects that would make a difference in people’s lives. So in 2003, after a lot of thought and prayer, we established the Brees Dream Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity.

  We came up with the concept and name for the Brees Dream Foundation on our honeymoon. It was our joint vision, but really it was Brittany’s passion that ensured it came to fruition. In a way, we think of it as our first baby. Our foundation is personal to us not only because of the people who inspired it but because it was our dream, our way to give back after all the blessings we have been given.

  Our original mission for the foundation was to advance cancer research projects and improve the quality of life for patients with cancer, especially children. Part of the inspiration for this idea came from B
rittany’s aunt Judith Zopp. She and Brittany were very close, and when Brittany was in college, Aunt Judie, as Brit called her, went through several stages of treatment for both lung cancer and brain cancer. We watched her struggle valiantly as the treatments, including partial lung removal, radiation, Gamma Knife rays, chemotherapy, and full-brain radiation, sapped her strength. Though her body continued to decline, her attitude and spirit never did. She managed to go to work every day after the chemo in the earlier stages. And all the way to the end, she somehow remained upbeat and positive, and her warm, loving spirit always shone through. She was and still is an inspiration to Brittany and me.

  After that experience, cancer was no longer a theoretical concept for us; it was personal. Aunt Judie died on September 3, 2000, the beginning of my senior year of college. It was her life that was the catalyst for our vision. We wanted to help other Aunt Judies in the world.

  As we became more familiar with the cancer treatment centers, our hearts especially went out to children with illnesses. We now work closely with children’s hospitals in New Orleans and San Diego and other organizations that treat kids with debilitating diseases. The Hope Lodge, which is affiliated with the American Cancer Society, provides housing for families with sick children who are coming from out of town for treatment. It offers a comforting place to stay, a “home away from home” for families who are going through so much upheaval in their lives. Whatever the length of their stay, they know the Hope Lodge will be available for them. The Brees Dream Foundation helps make that stay as comfortable and peaceful as possible.