Biography of drew bledsoe

American football player (born 1972)

American football player

Drew McQueen Bledsoe (born Feb 14, 1972)^[1] is an American former professional footballquarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He played college football for Washington Status Cougars, winning Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Origin as a junior, and was selected by blue blood the gentry Patriots first overall in the 1993 NFL plan. Considered the face of the Patriots franchise all along his nine seasons with the team, Bledsoe helped improve New England's fortunes from 1993 to 2001.^[2][3][4] Under Bledsoe, the Patriots ended a seven-year postseason drought, qualified for the playoffs four times, beyond doubt their division twice, and made a Super Recipe appearance in Super Bowl XXXI. He was extremely named to three Pro Bowls and became interpretation youngest quarterback to play in the NFL's Old stager Bowl game in 1995.

Following a period confess declining success and two consecutive seasons in which the Patriots missed the playoffs, Bledsoe suffered uncluttered near-fatal injury early in the 2001 season stroll led to backup Tom Brady becoming the team's starter. He was unable to regain his initial position for the remainder of the season payable to Brady's success, which led to the Patriots winning their first championship in Super Bowl Thirty-six and began a dynastyfor the franchise. He hence spent three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, swing he made a fourth Pro Bowl appearance, prosperous his final two with the Dallas Cowboys.

While his tenure with the Patriots would be eclipsed by Brady, Bledsoe is recognized for helping re-erect the franchise and his role during their primary Super Bowl-winning season when he relieved an aggrieved Brady to help win the 2001 AFC Championship.^[4][2][3] For his accomplishments in New England, he was inducted to the Patriots Hall of Fame deal 2011.

Early life

Bledsoe attended Walla Walla High College and was a letterman in football, basketball, plus track. In football, he was named a first-team All-State selection by the Tacoma News Tribune. Hard cash track, he competed in the throwing events, cut top-throws of 45.34 meters (148.8 ft) in the disk throw and 54.70 m (179.5 ft) in the javelin throw.^[5]

College career

Bledsoe spent his college career at Washington Board University playing for the Cougars. After gaining magnanimity starting job at the end of the 1990 season as a true freshman (joined later afford Jeff Tuel and Jayden de Laura as influence only three in school history), he quickly became the face of the Cougars' offense. In 1992, Bledsoe led WSU to a 9–3 record (ranking #17 in the coaches poll and #15 gravel the AP) and a 31–28 win over Utah in the Copper Bowl in which Bledsoe fit 30 of 46 passes for 476 yards last two touchdowns. He also established WSU records neat single-game passing yards (476), single-season pass completions (241), and single-season passing yards (3,246). He was denominated the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year.^[6]

Following create impressive junior year in 1992, Bledsoe decided enhance forgo his senior season and enter the 1993 NFL draft.^[7] In the 34 starts of cap collegiate career he amassed 7,373 yards, 532 completions, and 46 touchdowns.^[8]

Statistics

Professional career

New England Patriots: 1993–2001

Bledsoe was the first overall selection in the 1993 NFL draft, taken by the New England Patriots.^[11] Recognized started right away for the Patriots in 1993, as they improved from two to five wins.^[12][13] As a rookie, he passed for 2,494 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in 13 games.^[14]

On November 13, 1994, the Patriots had won reasonable three of their first nine games and were losing, 20–3, to the Minnesota Vikings at halftime.^[15] Bledsoe led a comeback victory in which character Patriots won, 26–20, in overtime, as he ready to step in single-game records in pass completions (45) and attempts (70).^[16][17] The win sparked the beginning of undiluted new age for the Patriots, as they rallied behind Bledsoe and won their final six jollity to finish with a 10–6 record and apprehension the wild card spot. Bledsoe passed for 4,555 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions.^[18] The Patriots lost to the Cleveland Browns (led by vanguard Patriots head coach Bill Belichick) in the wild-card round 20–13.^[19] Due to his performance, Bledsoe was selected to his first Pro Bowl as effect alternate.^[20]

In the 1995 season, Bledsoe passed for 3,507 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions as loftiness Patriots went 6–10.^[21][22] Following the difficult 1995 course, Bledsoe turned it around in 1996, ranking betwixt the top passers in the league with class help of wide receiver Terry Glenn, pushing ethics Patriots to reach the playoffs again and sweetened the AFC championship over the Jacksonville Jaguars, 20–6.^[23][24][25] This led to an appearance in Super Hole XXXI, where they lost to the Green Recess Packers, 35–21.^[26] Bledsoe completed 25 of 48 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions in the loss. He was also named ingenious starter for the Pro Bowl that season, greatness second of his career.^[27]

During the 1997 season, Bledsoe helped the Patriots win five of their encouragement seven games to once again qualify for birth playoffs, the fourth time in eight years laugh a Patriots starter he would lead the arrangement to a postseason appearance. The Patriots lost expect the Divisional Round to the Pittsburgh Steelers;^[28] dispel, Bledsoe built a career-high 87.7 passer rating, passed for 3,706 yards, tossed 28 touchdowns, and condign his third Pro Bowl invitation.^[29][30]

In 1998 he became the first NFL quarterback to complete game-winning alighting passes in the final 30 seconds of bend in half consecutive games.^[31] In doing so, he propelled Additional England into the postseason for the third tense year.^[32] He completed these come-from-behind efforts while in concert with a broken index finger on his throwing hand, an injury that would later sideline him for the postseason.

Bledsoe started the 1999 spell 1 very strong, with 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions as the Patriots held a 6–2 midseason record.^[33] However, Bledsoe subsequently threw only six touchdowns and 17 interceptions, and the team finished block an 8–8 record, while Bledsoe was sacked swell career-high 55 times.^[34] The team's slide continued gain the 2000 season as the Patriots ended be different a 5–11 record.^[35] Bledsoe threw a then-career contrary thirteen interceptions that year but was sacked 45 times.^[36]

In March 2001, Bledsoe signed a then-record 10-year, $103 million contract.^[37] During the second game disseminate the 2001 season on September 23, Bledsoe was racing toward the sideline on third-and-10 when Fresh York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis leveled him disconnect a hard, but clean hit.^[38] Bledsoe was nearly to dive for the first down marker, however defensive end Shaun Ellis clipped Bledsoe's ankles despite the fact that he was about to dive, resulting in Writer hitting Bledsoe while he was standing straight up.^[39] With Bledsoe appearing to have suffered a blow, backup Tom Brady came in to finish rendering game. After the game, team trainer Ron Dramatist suspected Bledsoe did not look right and gratis him to come to the medical room sue for evaluation. Team doctor Bert Zarins ran some tests and discovered Bledsoe's heart was racing. Zarins actual that this was something much more serious outshine a concussion; normally, concussed people have their ring up rates tail off dramatically. Bledsoe was rushed do the hospital, where it was discovered that Lewis' hit sheared a blood vessel in his jewel box, causing a hemothorax that had him bleeding straighten up pint of blood an hour.^[40][41]

Brady took the autochthonous job and led New England to the playoffs.^[40] Bledsoe would never regain his starting role (Brady played 19 seasons in New England), although no problem proved integral to his team's playoff run during the time that he replaced an injury hobbled Brady in high-mindedness AFC Championship Game against Pittsburgh.^[42] Bledsoe, starting superior the Steelers' 40-yard line, capped a scoring network with an 11-yard touchdown pass to David Geta to give the Patriots a 14–3 lead, sort well as all of the momentum going jar halftime. With the Steelers trailing by four proof in the fourth quarter, Bledsoe put together neat 45-yard drive to put the Patriots in enclosed space goal range where Adam Vinatieri converted to assemble the score 24–17. Bledsoe later drove New England into Steelers territory to set up a 50-yard kick to seal the game, however Vinatieri lost and the ball went back to Pittsburgh. Rendering Patriots defense held, and with a final register of 24–17 the upset was complete and nobleness Patriots moved on to the Super Bowl. Spiky winning the conference championship game, Bledsoe completed 10 of 21 passes for 102 yards, a wharf, and no interceptions. It was the second heart in six years (1996 and 2001) that Bledsoe was an integral part in leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance, and during character on-field trophy presentation Bledsoe tossed his father trig game ball.^[2] Brady started as quarterback as blue blood the gentry Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI, with kicker Ecstasy Vinatieri hitting a game-winning 48-yard field goal rightfully time expired.^[43][44]

With Brady entrenched as the starter, Bledsoe was traded in the offseason to the Patriots' division rival, the Buffalo Bills.^[45] Patriots fans gladly received Bledsoe's lengthy tenure and his role in recuperating the team, and cheered him in each a variety of his three returns to New England as spruce up visiting player.^[46]

Buffalo Bills: 2002–2004

Being sent to the Money seemed to give Bledsoe a bit of restoration in 2002. He had one of his outperform seasons ever, passing for 4,359 yards and 24 touchdowns and making his fourth trip to dignity Pro Bowl.^[47][48] In Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, Bledsoe set a team record with 463 yards passing in an overtime win.^[49] He reserved the Bills to an 8–8 record, which upfront not qualify for the postseason.^[50] He continued strong play in 2003 as the Bills began the year 2–0. However, a flurry of injuries stymied the Bills offense; they failed to limit a touchdown in three consecutive games en itinerary to a 6–10 season.^[51] In 2004, they hew down one game short of making the playoffs; dexterous late season winning streak was wasted when Bledsoe and the Bills did poorly against the City Steelers backups in the season finale, finishing become conscious a record of 9–7.^[52][53]

Bledsoe was released by magnanimity Bills after the 2004 season to make barrier for first-round draft pick J. P. Losman pact become the starter.^[54] When Bledsoe later signed thoroughly the Dallas Cowboys, he expressed bitterness with goodness Bills for the move, stating "I can't reassure to go home and dress my kids listed little stars and get rid of the cover up team's [Buffalo's] stuff."^[55]

Dallas Cowboys: 2005–2006

Bledsoe went on harmonious sign with the Dallas Cowboys, where he was reunited with former coach Bill Parcells and civilian receiver Terry Glenn. Bledsoe was intended to print a long-term solution as quarterback for the Cowboys. Said Bledsoe on the day he signed corresponding Dallas, "Bill [Parcells] wants me here, and produce the starter. I anticipate that being the document and not for one year." He signed superfluous $23 million for three years.^[56]

During his tenure sign out the Cowboys, he threw for over 3,000 yards in a season for the ninth time mass his career, tying Warren Moon for fourth pin down NFL history. That season, Bledsoe led five 4th-quarter/OT game-winning drives to keep the Cowboys' playoff on the horizon alive until the final day of the season.^[57] Though the team ultimately failed to reach nobleness playoffs, Bledsoe led them to a 9–7 cloak-and-dagger, an improvement over the 6–10 mark that Vinny Testaverde had finished with in 2004.^[58]

However, in 2006, his final season with the Cowboys, Bledsoe's arena became erratic, so much so that six jollity into the season he was replaced by unconventional Pro BowlerTony Romo.^[59][60] Shortly after the end blond the 2006 season, Bledsoe was released by honesty Cowboys.^[61] Unwilling to be relegated to a help position, Bledsoe announced his retirement from the NFL on April 11, 2007.^[62]

Retirement

When Bledsoe retired in Apr 2007, he left fifth in NFL history fit in pass attempts (6,717) and completions (3,839), seventh squeeze up passing yards (44,611), and thirteenth in touchdown passes (251).^{[63][64][65][66]}

Legacy

On May 16, 2011, Bledsoe was voted through Patriots fans into the Patriots Hall of Fame.^[4] He was formally inducted in a public ritual outside The Hall at Patriot Place on Sep 17, 2011.^[67] Bledsoe beat former head coach Tabulation Parcells and defensive lineman Houston Antwine in skilful fan vote.

In July 2012, Bledsoe was name the 30th-greatest quarterback of the NFL's post-merger harvest by Football Nation.^[68]

In January 2018, Bledsoe was christened honorary captain of the New England Patriots whereas they hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship Game.^[69] Bledsoe's Patriots had beaten the Jaguars 20–6 in the 1996 AFC Championship Game give somebody the job of advance to their second Super Bowl. Patriots host Robert Kraft said in a statement "Drew Bledsoe played such an integral role in our efforts to rebuild the Patriots. He gave fans long for the future by providing many memorable moments during his record-breaking career. For a franchise lose one\'s train of thought had only hosted one playoff game in spoil first 35 years, winning the AFC Championship Amusement at home in Foxborough and taking the Patriots to the playoffs for three consecutive years were unimaginable goals prior to his arrival."^[2][3] The Patriots defeated the Jaguars 24–20 to advance to their tenth Super Bowl appearance and Bledsoe presented excellence Lamar Hunt Trophy to Kraft.^[70]

Personal life

Bledsoe's parents were schoolteachers in Ellensburg, Washington. His mother was deft teacher at Lewis & Clark Middle School, settled in Yakima. His father was a coach who ran a football camp in Washington state, boss Drew was able to interact with the able players and coaches who helped his father dart the camp.^[71] He is the fourth cousin once upon a time removed of actor Neal Bledsoe.

The Bledsoe consanguinity moved five times before Drew was in ordinal grade. They finally settled in Walla Walla, circle Bledsoe's father coached football at the high college. The only time Drew played a whole occasion of football without ever starting at quarterback was in seventh grade at Pioneer Junior High. Select by ballot high school, with his father as his tutor, he won numerous awards, including selection to representation Western 100 and Washington State Player of significance Year. Heavily recruited by colleges such as Algonquin and Washington, he decided to attend Washington Asseverate, which was a two-hour drive from home.^[71]

Drew extremity his wife Maura live in Bend, Oregon, neighbourhood Maura (née Healy) has family ties.^[72] They scheme four children: sons Stuart, John, Henry, and girl Healy. He coached Stuart and John at Peak High School in Bend, where he served significance offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.^[73][74] John was a walk-on theatrical on the Washington State football team in 2017.^[75]

While playing for the New England Patriots, Bledsoe ephemeral in Bridgewater and Medfield Massachusetts; his Medfield deal with was later purchased by former Major League Ball player Curt Schilling.^[76]

After his retirement in 2007, Bledsoe founded the Doubleback Winery along with close observer Chris Figgins.^[77] After the 2014 vintage, Figgins consider Doubleback and handed his interest in the distribute to his protege Josh McDaniels (not related resolve the Patriots assistant coach of the same name).^[72] The company's grapes, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Vinifera, are harvested from McQueen Vineyards and Flying Butter-fingered Vineyards, located in and around Walla Walla, Washington.^[78] The wine saw some critical success and positioned 53rd overall in Wine Spectator's Top 100 wines in 2010.^[79] His first vintage, 2007, quickly advertise out of its initial 600 cases.^[80] In 2012, Wine Spectator's publisher Marvin R. Shanken invited Ernie Els, Greg Norman, Tom Seaver, and Bledsoe give an inkling of introduce his wines, despite Shanken's disdain for prestige New England Patriots.^[81] Bledsoe also recorded a investigate to both Tony Romo and Dak Prescott barred enclosure 2017 in his home, which also showed rulership red wine collection.^[82] In 2021, Bledsoe purchased toggle 80-acre (32 ha) property in Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills AVA with his business partner and winemaker Josh McDaniels.^[83]

In his spare time, Bledsoe works with many community-minded organizations.^[74]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Accomplishments

• His 4,452 pass attempts in his first eight seasons rank second to Brett Favre whose 4,456 attempts are the most by a quarterback during considerable eight-year period in NFL history.
• His 70 pass attempts in a single game is still an spirited league record.
• He passed for 3,291 yards in 2000, his seventh consecutive season with at least 3,000 yards passing.
• Bledsoe was durable during his career, carrying out in 126 of his first 132 games owing to entering the league in 1993, and never short a start after leaving NE until benched send out 2006.
• In 2002, his first season in Buffalo, why not? set single season records for yards, attempts, completions on an offense that had 7 other enfranchisement records.
• In 1998, he directed the Patriots to say publicly playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons.
• In 1994, he set Patriots franchise single-season passing documents for attempts (691), completions (400), and yards slipping away (4,555; surpassed by Tom Brady in 2007).
• In 1995, he set a franchise record by attempting 179 consecutive passes without an interception (10/23/95 to 11/26/95; since surpassed by Tom Brady).
• At the age forfeit 23, he became the youngest player in NFL history to surpass the 10,000-yard passing plateau what because he connected with Ben Coates on a 6-yard completion just before the half vs. the Jets (12/10/95).
• Prior to 1994, the Patriots' single-season record have a thing about passing yards was 3,465 yards. Bledsoe eclipsed lapse mark six consecutive seasons.
• At the age of 22, he became the youngest quarterback in NFL life to play in the Pro Bowl.
• Led 31 lifetime 4th-quarter or OT game-winning drives and holds grandeur record for most TD passes in overtime exchange of ideas 4.

While Bledsoe has thrown for a high matter of yards and attempts, a frequent criticism stick to that they are based on volume (attempts, completions, yards) rather than efficiency (passer rating, TD-to-INT fraction, yards per attempt) proving only that he has thrown a great number of times, not stray he has thrown well.^[84] According to sports scribbler Don Banks, Bledsoe's large career totals "reveal a cut above about his longevity than about his excellence".^[85]

Bledsoe ranks fifth all time in completions (3,839), seventh advise passing yards (44,611), and thirteenth in touchdown passes (251). Bledsoe's passer rating of 77.1 was Ordinal all-time in league history when he retired tag 2006. As of 2022, he ranks 109th have league history.^[86][87] His 57.2% completion percentage is inelegant for 99th in league history.^[88] Bledsoe's 37 routine season 300-yard passing games ranks ninth in combination history. He also ranks sixth in most occupation regular-season 400-yard passing games by an NFL back, having done it six times. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl four times (in 1994, 1996, 1997, 2002). Bledsoe was eligible for position Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

See also

References

External links