Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe is an American former professional football quarterback who played 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1993 to 2006, most notably as the No. 1 overall draft pick by the New England Patriots, where he set numerous franchise passing records before an injury paved the way for Tom Brady's rise.[1][2] Born Drew McQueen Bledsoe on February 14, 1972, in Ellensburg, Washington, he starred at Washington State University before being selected first overall in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Patriots, signing a then-record contract and immediately becoming the team's franchise quarterback.[1][2] Over his nine seasons with New England (1993–2001), Bledsoe appeared in 124 games, starting 123, and amassed 29,657 passing yards with 166 touchdowns, leading the NFL in passing yards with 4,555 in 1994 while earning four Pro Bowl selections (1994, 1996, 1997, 2002) and two second-team All-Pro honors (1994, 1996).[1] His tenure included guiding the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXI in 1997, where they lost to the Green Bay Packers, and he finished third in AP Comeback Player of the Year voting in 2002 after rebounding from injury.[1][3] A pivotal moment came in Week 2 of the 2001 season when Bledsoe suffered a severe internal injury from a hit by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis, sidelining him and allowing sixth-round draft pick Tom Brady to take over as starter; Bledsoe returned as a backup for the playoffs, contributing key relief efforts including in the AFC Championship Game victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers that secured a Super Bowl XXXVI appearance, which the Patriots won against the St. Louis Rams—marking Bledsoe's only championship ring.[3] Traded to the Buffalo Bills in April 2002 for a first-round pick, he revitalized their offense over three seasons (2002–2004), throwing for 10,151 yards and 56 touchdowns while earning his fourth Pro Bowl nod in 2002.[1] Bledsoe concluded his career with the Dallas Cowboys in 2005–2006 under coach Bill Parcells, passing for 4,803 yards and 29 touchdowns in 29 games before retiring at age 34 due to ongoing health issues.[1] Across 194 games (193 starts) with three teams, he compiled 44,611 passing yards, 251 touchdowns, 206 interceptions, and a 77.1 passer rating, ranking him among the era's productive pocket passers despite playing in a run-heavy, conservative offensive scheme.[1] He was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2011.[4] Since retiring, Bledsoe has transitioned into business and winemaking, co-founding Doubleback Winery in Walla Walla, Washington, in 2007 with his wife Maura, focusing on estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the region's terroir and earning national acclaim for its quality.[3] He expanded into Bledsoe Family Winery and Bledsoe Wine Estates, including a partnership with former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for Bledsoe|McDaniels wines featuring Pinot Noir and Syrah from the Willamette Valley, emphasizing sustainable practices and family involvement.[5] Additionally, Bledsoe founded Bledsoe Capital Group to invest in green technologies for industrial wastewater treatment and has coached football at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon, where he resides with his family, including assisting his sons in their playing careers.[3] Inducted into the Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, he remains connected to the NFL through occasional commentary and his enduring legacy as a bridge between eras for the Patriots dynasty.[3]Early years
Early life
Drew Bledsoe was born on February 14, 1972, in Ellensburg, Washington, to Mac Bledsoe, a high school English teacher and football coach, and Barbara Bledsoe.[6] His family's deep roots in the Pacific Northwest traced back to his grandfather Stu Bledsoe, who had relocated from California to Washington after World War II to pursue cattle ranching, establishing a legacy of industriousness and appreciation for the land. Due to Mac Bledsoe's coaching career, the family relocated frequently across eastern Washington, moving five times before Drew entered sixth grade as they pursued various high school coaching positions.[7] By around age 10, they settled in Walla Walla, Washington, where Mac took a coaching role at Walla Walla High School, providing stability amid the earlier transitions.[8] These moves exposed young Bledsoe to diverse small-town environments, shaping his adaptable and grounded upbringing in rural settings. Bledsoe's early interest in football was profoundly influenced by his father's profession; Mac ran summer football clinics that introduced Drew to the sport from a young age, allowing him to interact with coaches and professional players while honing basic skills in youth leagues starting around age 7.[6] Beyond athletics, Bledsoe developed a passion for outdoor pursuits, beginning to ski at age 2 in Washington's Cascade Mountains and progressing to challenging steep terrain by age 6, often joining family trips that emphasized physical activity and nature. He was also recognized as a strong student during his formative years, balancing academic responsibilities with participation in school and community activities that reflected his family's emphasis on education and community involvement.[7]High school career
Drew Bledsoe attended Walla Walla High School in Walla Walla, Washington, where he graduated in 1990.[9] He was a standout three-sport athlete, earning varsity letters in football, basketball, and track and field during his high school years from approximately 1986 to 1990.[10] In football, Bledsoe emerged as a key player starting in his sophomore year, contributing significantly to the team's performance in 1988 and 1989.[6][11] As the starting quarterback for the Walla Walla Blue Devils, Bledsoe earned first-team all-state honors in football.[8] During his senior year in 1989, he threw for 2,560 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, a performance that set a Washington state single-game record of 509 yards in one contest and earned him the Washington State Football Player of the Year award.[12][6][13] Bledsoe also excelled in basketball as a letterman and participated in track and field events, including the shot put during his senior year.[10][14] Bledsoe's impressive high school performances drew widespread attention from college recruiters, including most Pac-10 programs and schools beyond the conference.[15] He ultimately committed to Washington State University, citing its close proximity to his hometown as a key factor in his decision.[10] In recognition of his athletic achievements, Bledsoe was inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020.[10]College career
Bledsoe enrolled at Washington State University in 1990 and quickly earned playing time as a true freshman quarterback under head coach Mike Price. He appeared in seven games that season, starting the final five, and completed 92 of 189 passes for 1,386 yards with 9 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.[16][17] As a sophomore in 1991, Bledsoe solidified his role as the starter, appearing in all 11 games and throwing for 2,741 yards with 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, despite the Cougars' 4–7 finish.[16] His performance demonstrated growing poise in the Pac-10 offense, where he led the conference in passing yards that year. Bledsoe's junior season in 1992 marked a breakout year, as he passed for 2,770 yards and 18 touchdowns with 14 interceptions during the regular season, earning him Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year honors, second-team All-American recognition, and a spot as an eighth-place finisher in Heisman Trophy voting.[18] He led Washington State to a 9–3 regular season record and their first bowl appearance in six years, culminating in a 31–28 Copper Bowl victory over Utah, where Bledsoe was named MVP after completing 30 of 46 passes for 476 yards and two touchdowns.[19][20] Over three seasons, Bledsoe amassed 7,373 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and 34 interceptions in 30 games.[21] He set Washington State records for single-season passing yards (3,246 including bowl game), completions (241), and attempts (432) during his junior year, marks that underscored his impact on the program's passing attack.[22] In recognition of his contributions, Bledsoe was inducted into the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Pac-12 Hall of Honor in 2022.[21] Following this standout campaign, he opted to forgo his senior year and entered the 1993 NFL Draft as an early entry candidate.[23]Professional career
New England Patriots (1993–2001)
Bledsoe was selected by the New England Patriots with the first overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft out of Washington State University.[1] He signed a six-year contract worth $14.5 million shortly after the draft, marking one of the richest deals for a rookie at the time.[24] As a rookie in 1993, Bledsoe started 12 of 13 games, throwing for 2,494 yards with 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while posting a 65.0 passer rating.[1] His performance helped the Patriots improve from a 2-14 record in 1992 to 6-10, ending a stretch of five consecutive losing seasons. Bledsoe's breakout came in 1994 under new head coach Bill Parcells, when he led the league with 691 pass attempts and threw for 4,555 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions en route to a 10-6 record and the team's first playoff berth since 1985.[1] That season, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection after setting an NFL single-game record with 45 completions (on 70 attempts for 426 yards and three touchdowns) in an overtime victory against the Minnesota Vikings.[25] During the mid-1990s, Bledsoe solidified his status as one of the league's top quarterbacks, earning consecutive Pro Bowl nods in 1996 and 1997.[1] In 1996, he passed for 4,086 yards and 27 touchdowns with a career-best 83.7 passer rating, guiding the Patriots to an 11-5 record, the AFC East title, and a run to Super Bowl XXXI, where they lost to the Green Bay Packers 35-21.[1] The following year, Bledsoe threw for 3,706 yards and 28 touchdowns, helping New England secure another division title at 10-6 before a playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.[1] Over his nine seasons with the Patriots, Bledsoe led the team to four playoff appearances (1994, 1996, 1997, and 2001) and three division championships (1996, 1997, and 2001), transforming a franchise that had endured seven straight non-winning seasons prior to his arrival.[1] In Week 2 of the 2001 season against the New York Jets, Bledsoe suffered a severe injury on a hit from linebacker Mo Lewis, resulting in internal bleeding (hemothorax) that required hospitalization and sidelined him for most of the year.[26] Backup Tom Brady took over as starter, leading the Patriots to an 11-5 record and the AFC East title. Bledsoe returned for the AFC Championship Game against the Steelers, completing 10 of 21 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in a 24-17 victory, but New England fell to the St. Louis Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI.[1] Following the Super Bowl, the Patriots traded Bledsoe to the Buffalo Bills in April 2002 for a 2003 first-round draft pick.[27] In nine seasons with New England, he appeared in 124 games (starting 123), compiling a 63-60 record as a starter, 29,657 passing yards, 166 touchdowns, and 138 interceptions.[1]Buffalo Bills (2002–2004)
On April 21, 2002, the New England Patriots traded Bledsoe to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, a move that positioned him as the Bills' starting quarterback to help rebuild their passing attack after the retirement of longtime star Jim Kelly.[27] Bledsoe brought veteran leadership and a proven arm to an offense seeking stability, fostering a sense of calm and confidence among teammates while emphasizing the importance of wide receivers like Eric Moulds in the scheme.[28] Bledsoe's first season with Buffalo marked a strong resurgence, as he threw for 4,359 yards and 24 touchdowns, with 610 pass attempts (second in the NFL) en route to an 8-8 record and his fourth career Pro Bowl selection.[1] This performance highlighted his ability to orchestrate a high-volume passing game, revitalizing Buffalo's aerial attack and improving the team's output from the quarterback position in the post-Kelly era.[29] The following two years brought challenges, with injuries to Bledsoe and key offensive contributors like running back Travis Henry and wide receiver Peerless Price limiting the unit's consistency despite Bledsoe starting all 32 games.[30] In 2003, he passed for 2,860 yards and 11 touchdowns amid a 6-10 finish, while 2004 saw 2,932 yards and 20 touchdowns as the Bills rallied to a 9-7 record but fell short of the playoffs on tiebreakers. Over his three seasons in Buffalo, Bledsoe accumulated 10,151 passing yards and 55 touchdowns, providing a measure of reliability to the franchise's offense during a transitional period.[1] In February 2005, following a contract restructure in 2004 that extended his deal through 2007, the Bills released him to clear the path for rookie J.P. Losman.[32][33]Dallas Cowboys (2005–2006)
After being released by the Buffalo Bills, Bledsoe signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys on February 23, 2005, worth approximately $14 million, reuniting him with head coach Bill Parcells, who had drafted him first overall in 1993.[34] Bledsoe was brought in as the starting quarterback to stabilize the position following a 6-10 season, replacing the aging Vinny Testaverde.[1] In his first year with Dallas, Bledsoe started all 16 games, completing 300 of 499 passes for 3,639 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions, helping the Cowboys improve to a 9-7 record but miss the playoffs. His performance marked the ninth time in his career he surpassed 3,000 passing yards in a season, tying him with Warren Moon for fourth in NFL history at the time. Entering the 2006 season as the incumbent starter, Bledsoe appeared in and started six games with a 3-3 record, passing for 1,164 yards, seven touchdowns, and eight interceptions on 90 of 169 attempts.[35] However, after a struggling first half against the New York Giants in Week 7—where he completed just 5 of 15 passes for 59 yards and threw two interceptions—Parcells benched him at halftime in favor of backup Tony Romo, who led Dallas to a comeback victory and assumed the starting role for the remainder of the season.[36] The Cowboys finished 9-7 and earned a wild-card playoff berth behind Romo, but lost in the divisional round to the Seattle Seahawks.[35] Over two seasons with Dallas, Bledsoe appeared in 22 games (starting 22), and accumulated 4,803 passing yards with 30 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.[1] He was released by the Cowboys on March 1, 2007, prior to the start of free agency, as the team committed to Romo as its franchise quarterback; the move cleared $4.5 million in salary cap space.[37] Bledsoe later reflected on adapting to Parcells' disciplined, run-oriented system in Dallas, which emphasized game management and differed from his earlier high-volume passing roles, noting it required a more conservative approach to protect the ball and support the team's defense.[38] During his tenure, he also served as a mentor to younger quarterbacks, including Romo, providing guidance on preparation and leadership in the huddle despite the eventual transition.[39]Career statistics and records
Regular season and postseason statistics
Drew Bledsoe played 194 regular-season games over 14 NFL seasons from 1993 to 2006, compiling career passing totals of 3,839 completions on 6,717 attempts for 44,611 yards, 251 touchdowns, and 206 interceptions, yielding a 57.2% completion percentage and 77.1 passer rating.[1] He also added 385 rushing attempts for 764 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, while committing 123 fumbles.[1] These figures reflect his role as a prolific but turnover-prone pocket passer across stints with the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys.[1] The following table summarizes Bledsoe's regular-season statistics year by year, integrating passing, rushing, and fumble data. Games played (G) include starts where applicable; passing metrics cover completions/attempts (Cmp/Att), yards (Yds), touchdowns/interceptions (TD/Int), and passer rating (Rate); rushing includes attempts/yards/touchdowns (Att/Yds/TD); fumbles (Fmb) denote total lost and recovered.[1]| Year | Team | G | Cmp/Att | Yds | TD/Int | Rate | Rush Att/Yds/TD | Fmb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | NWE | 13 | 214/429 | 2,494 | 15/15 | 65.0 | 32/82/0 | 8 |
| 1994 | NWE | 16 | 400/691 | 4,555 | 25/27 | 73.6 | 44/40/0 | 9 |
| 1995 | NWE | 15 | 323/636 | 3,507 | 13/16 | 63.7 | 20/28/0 | 11 |
| 1996 | NWE | 16 | 373/623 | 4,086 | 27/15 | 83.7 | 24/27/0 | 9 |
| 1997 | NWE | 16 | 314/522 | 3,706 | 28/15 | 87.7 | 28/55/0 | 4 |
| 1998 | NWE | 14 | 263/481 | 3,633 | 20/14 | 80.9 | 28/44/0 | 9 |
| 1999 | NWE | 16 | 305/539 | 3,985 | 19/21 | 75.6 | 42/101/0 | 8 |
| 2000 | NWE | 16 | 312/531 | 3,291 | 17/13 | 77.3 | 47/158/2 | 9 |
| 2001 | NWE | 2 | 40/66 | 400 | 2/2 | 75.3 | 5/18/0 | 1 |
| 2002 | BUF | 16 | 375/610 | 4,359 | 24/15 | 86.0 | 27/67/2 | 11 |
| 2003 | BUF | 16 | 274/471 | 2,860 | 11/12 | 73.0 | 24/29/2 | 15 |
| 2004 | BUF | 16 | 256/450 | 2,932 | 20/16 | 76.6 | 22/37/0 | 9 |
| 2005 | DAL | 16 | 300/499 | 3,639 | 23/17 | 83.7 | 34/50/2 | 17 |
| 2006 | DAL | 6 | 90/169 | 1,164 | 7/8 | 69.2 | 8/28/2 | 3 |
| Career | 3TM | 194 | 3,839/6,717 | 44,611 | 251/206 | 77.1 | 385/764/10 | 123 |