Drew Christopher Brees: former quarterback for Purdue University, from Austin, Texas. He was the first pick of the second round in the 2001 NFL Draft, chosen by the San Diego Chargers. His ongoing success of shattering NFL records every other Sunday would not be fully showcased until he arrived in New Orleans, becoming the starting quarterback of the New Orleans Saints in 2006.

Dear Drew Brees,

I was a nine year old elementary school kid from Long Island, New York when you started playing for the Saints back in 2006. I spent Sundays trying to understand football with my Dad, a lover of the city of New Orleans. Football was a staple in my family, but I wouldn't fully understand why football meant so much to so many until I started following your success as a Saint. Football is so much more than a game and you exemplify this by the actions you partake in and off the field. You were, and still are my "Athletic Inspiration," and not only because you hold over fifteen NFL records and twenty plus Saints franchise records. You are an inspiration to so many young athletes and kids all around the country because you are a genuinely good person. "Good People," especially genuinely good celebrities, are hard to come by in today's day of age.

You came to New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina left a city normally so full of life, culture, and good times in shambles. New Orleans was practically destroyed, rebuilding was just beginning, and the spirit of the city was devastated. You gave the people of New Orleans something to look forward to on Sunday afternoons. Life was not going to fix itself over night, but you provided a type of normalcy that was so desperately needed in a city full of uncertainties. Saints fans had something to "get behind," something to be excited about, and lastly, something to unite a group of hurting people. The best word that comes to mind when I think of Super Bowl XLIV is hope. You, along with Sean Payton and the rest of the New Orleans Saints reestablished hope for not only the entire City of New Orleans, but for your fans all around the United States.

You give back to your community. You saw that New Orleans was hurting and you immediately felt the need to fix it, donating money to rebuild New Orleans. You started the Brees Dream Foundation, which helps cancer patients and their families. The amount of community service activities you have participated in are too numerous to list, including USO trips and giving back to your fans in need.

You're a family man. It is so apparent that you love your family more than anything and that is so important. It is so easy to lose sight of what is important, but every interview I've seen of you talking about your family has melted my heart. You set an example for how the most important things in life aren't things, but the family and people you surround yourself with.

Standing at just six feet tall, NFL announcers like to pick on you because you're too short to be a quarterback, and I'm sure you heard that a lot growing up. Alas, here you are, one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history. In terms of athletics, you take away from stereotypes and helped to defy the odds. This is so important to any athlete who may be questioning their abilities. You didn't let your height dictate your success or let anyone's opinions stop you from achieving your goals. As a high school athlete, and now collegiate softball player this is something I hold onto every time someone tries to doubt me, or when I doubt myself.

I could go on and on about how I chose #9 as my jersey number in your honor, or how I proudly wore my Drew Brees jerseys to school after a win against the hometown favorites (I'll never forget the dirty looks I got), but I'll finish with this- never change, Cool Brees.

Sincerely,

A thankful fan.