While Drew Bledsoe's legacy may be foreshadowed by the performance of his then-backup, Tom Brady, his legacy helped rebuild the New England Patriots franchise to what it is today. Bledsoe was a high-volume quarterback that wasn't afraid to let the ball fly on any defense the NFL had to offer. During his three-year tenure at Washington State University, Bledsoe shattered a multitude of records including most passing yards in a single game (476), most pass completions in a single season (241), and single-season passing yards (3,946). In 1992, Bledsoe led the Cougars to a 31-28 Copper Bowl victory over the Utah Utes and won the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year Award.
In the 1993 NFL Draft, Drew Bledsoe was selected 1st overall by the New England Patriots where he would play nine seasons out of his fourteen-season NFL career. While a member of the Patriots, Bledsoe became the youngest quarterback to surpass 10,000 and 20,000 passing yards. Bledsoe also holds the record for most completions in a game with 45. The 4x Pro Bowler did win a ring in his final season with the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI. Bledsoe would go to play three seasons with the Buffalo Bills from 2002 to 2004 and the Dallas Cowboys from 2005 to 2006. Injuries and some lackluster performances helped Bledsoe choose retirement in April 2007, but he will forever be known as a legend in New England.