San Diego took Drew Brees out of Purdue with the first pick of the second round in 2001, 32nd overall. He spent the season behind Doug Flutie and played in one game, at Kansas City on November 4, and threw his first touchdown pass in it.
One game as a rookie, and a first touchdown pass in it.
Topps's 2001 set ran to 385 cards, with the rookies toward the end, and Brees is #328.
2001 ★ ROOKIE ★ TOPPS runs across the top. Brees is on a practice field in the Chargers' navy jersey, number 9, the ball held at his chest as he sets to throw, framed in gold on a silver-gray border, with the Topps Rookie Card logo in one corner and a Chargers helmet in the other, and Drew BREES along the bottom.
The same photograph, on chromium stock, is his Topps Chrome rookie.
In 2004 he was the Comeback Player of the Year and made his first Pro Bowl. In the last game of 2005 he tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder recovering a fumble. On March 14, 2006, he signed with New Orleans.
