Top 5 New Orleans Saints Quarterbacks Of All-Time
Who are the top 5 quarterbacks in the history of the New Orleans Saints?
Last Friday, we unveiled the five best fullbacks in franchise history.
Today, we stay in the offensive backfield.
1)---DREW BREES---Seriously, this one is a no-brainer, as Brees, who signed with the Saints as a free agent prior to the 2006 season, is one of the most beloved players in franchise history. After finishing his collegiate career at Purdue, where he won the Maxwell Award following the 2000 season, Brees was taken by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of 2001 NFL Draft. After playing five seasons for the Chargers, in which he threw for 12,348 and 80 touchdowns, Brees signed with the Saints as a free agent, joining new head coach Sean Payton, prior to the 2006 campaign. The signing immediately paid big dividends, as Brees led the Saints to their first-ever appearance in the NFC Championship Game, throwing for 4,418 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first season with the franchise. After throwing for over 9,500 yards and 62 touchdowns, combined, over the next two years, Brees guided the Saints to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance, and win, in 2009, throwing for 4,388 yards and 44 scores. From 2011-2013, Brees had three-consecutive 5,000-yard passing seasons, including a team-record 5,476 yards in 2011. Not only that, but Brees is still playing at a high level, passing for 5.208 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2016. A native of Austin, Texas, Brees has won numerous honors, including being named to the Pro Bowl ten times, Super Bowl XLIV MVP, AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2008 & 2011), and Walter Payton Man of the Year (2006). Brees has set numerous NFL records as well, including being the all-time leader in completion percentage, the fastest player in history to reach 40,000 passing yards, the fastest in history to pass for 50,000 yards, the most seasons with 5,000 passing yards (5), and the most consecutive games with a touchdown pass (54). Needless to say, Brees is the all-time franchise leader is virtually every passing category, including career wins, passing touchdowns, pass attempts, pass completions and passing yards. Over his 16-year career, Brees has completed 5,836-of-8,758 passes for 66,111 yards and 465 touchdowns. In 11 years with the Saints, Brees has completed 4,711-of-6,949 passes for 53,763 yards and 385 touchdowns.
2)---ARCHIE MANNING---Manning, who played for the Saints from 1971-1982, is one of the most popular players in franchise history. After finishing his collegiate career at Ole Miss, where he was named the SEC Player of the Year in 1969, and later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, Manning was taken by the Saints in the first round, with the second overall pick, in the 1971 NFL Draft. In 1972, Manning led the NFC in passing yards (2,781), while tossing 18 touchdown passes. After missing the entire 1976 season due to injury, Manning recovered and had three-consecutive seasons from 1978-1980 where he threw for over 3,000 yards. A native of Drew, Mississippi, Manning was named to the Pro Bowl in 1978 and 1979, and was also named the NFC Offensive Player of the Year in 1978, after throwing for 3,416 yards and 17 touchdowns. Manning was traded to the Houston Oilers midway through the 1982 season, before finishing his 13-career with the Minnesota Vikings following the 1983 season. Manning completed his career completing 2,011-of-3,642 passes for 23,911 yards and 125 touchdowns, while rushing for another 2,197 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 11 seasons with the Saints, Manning threw for 2,734 and 115 touchdowns.
3)---BOBBY HEBERT---He played seven seasons for the Saints, from 1985-1992. After finishing his collegiate career at Northwestern St., Hebert went on to play three years in the United States Football League, where he led the Michigan Panthers to the championship in the first year of the league, and threw for a league record 13,137 yards. A native of Cut Off, Louisiana, Hebert signed with the Saints in 1985, and became the starting quarterback in 1987, when he led the team to it’s first-ever winning season and playoff appearance. In seven seasons with the Saints, Hebert threw for 14,630 yards and 85 touchdowns, which puts him in fourth place on the all-time franchise list in both categories.
4)---AARON BROOKS---He played for the organization for 6 seasons, from 2000-2005. A fourth round selection of the Green Bay Packers in the 1999 NFL Draft out of Virginia, Brooks was traded to the Saints, along with tight end Lamont Hall, in exchange for linebacker K.D. Williams and a draft choice, prior to the 2000 season. After beginning the year as a back-up to starter Jeff Blake, Brooks inherited the starting role when Blake was injured in the 11th week of the season. In his first NFL start, Brooks led the Saints to a 31-24 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams on the road, becoming the first QB in NFL history to accomplish that feat. In his second career NFL start, Brooks threw for 441 yards against the Denver Broncos, and followed that up one week later by rushing for 108 yards against the San Francisco 49ers, becoming the first quarterback to ever throw for over 400 yards in a game, and rush for 100 yards in another, in the same season, and he did it in back-to-back weeks. On December 30 of 2000, Brooks 266 yards and four touchdowns in a playoff win over the St. Louis Rams, the first postseason win in franchise history. In 2001, Brooks threw for 26 touchdowns, which at the time tied a franchise record, while throwing for a career-high 3,832 yards. The Newport News, Virginia native bested his touchdown output in 2002, throwing for 27 scores, before tossing for 24 in 2003, to go along with only 8 interceptions. In six seasons with the Saints, Brooks threw for 19,156 yards and 120 touchdowns, which ranks him third and second, respectively, on the all-time Saints charts.
5)---BILLY KILMER---He only played four years for the Saints (1967-1970), yet Kilmer still ranks 6th in all-time passing yards (7,490) in team history, 6th in completions (592), and 6th in touchdowns passes (47). And this was done with virtually no offensive line to speak of protecting him. The Topeka, Kansas native had his best season with the Saints in 1969, throwing for 2,532 yards and 20 touchdowns.