Purdue football coaching gig only temporary for Drew Brees
WEST LAFAYETTE - Don't get your hopes up, Purdue fans, if you think Drew Brees coaching Boilermaker quarterbacks is a long-term solution.
The legendary former Purdue and NFL quarterback says it's strictly on an interim basis.
When former Louisville standout quarterback Jeff Brohm resigned as Purdue head football coach to assume the same position at his alma mater, the Boilermakers turned to one of their all-time great signal callers to help fill a coaching void.
MORE:Drew Brees to help coach Purdue football in Citrus Bowl vs. LSU
But it was actually Brees who made first contact.
"I called up (athletic director) Mike Bobinski and the guys here and said, 'I’m here if you need me,' " Brees said. "I want to be a resource and I would love to work with these guys. They’ve given me that opportunity and I am going to take full advantage."
Brees, who played at Purdue from 1997-2000 and was twice a Heisman Trophy finalist before a 20-year NFL career with the Chargers and Saints, will be quarterbacks coach for the Jan. 2 Citrus Bowl against LSU.
But beyond that, Brees is quite content in retirement from football, whether it be playing, coaching or broadcasting, which he did last season for NBC.
"Being a player for 20 years in the NFL, that was a big commitment and there was a lot of time away from family," Brees said. "My kids are at an age now where I certainly want to be around, I love being around. I don’t want to miss a thing with them. Coaching lifestyle doesn’t quite fit where I’m at right now. Not to say that will never be the case, but there’s also a reason I didn’t broadcast this year."
In the meantime though, he's a solid source of knowledge for the Boilermakers, even beyond the quarterbacks.
Brees' first day on the practice field in his temporary role was Monday and the Boilers already are reaping the benefits of having a former Super Bowl MVP and NFL legend at their disposal.
That's doubly the case for Austin Burton, the sixth-year senior who will make just his third collegiate start when Purdue suits up against LSU in less than two weeks. Burton started one game for UCLA in 2019. His second start came on Sept. 24 in a win over Florida Atlantic.
Having Brees' knowledge available in film study and practice sessions can only benefit the quarterback in preparation for his final game.
"It is pretty cool to say, that would be kind of an understatement," Burton said. "Seeing him out here and in the meeting rooms and getting a chance to pick his brain and ask him different questions and see what he has to say about a certain read or a certain play that maybe I didn’t have insight on. It’s really an awesome situation to be in."
Tuesday's practice inside Mollenkopf Athletic Center ended with the team circled around their new quarterbacks coach.
Brees, as he famously did during his playing days, delivered a speech meant to inspire.
And it did.
"He is a great motivator. He just talked to us after practice, talked to the whole team. It is motivation," senior linebacker Kieren Douglas said. "I wanted to run through a brick wall after he was done talking. It’s definitely a good thing for the team and we’re excited to have him here."
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue football coaching gig only temporary for Drew Brees
