The Boilermakers hold a solid claim to the designation of "Quarterback U".
With championship passers such as Len Dawson, Bob Griese and Drew Brees, the Purdue quarterback  has had a championship impact on the NFL


The former Boilermaker QB was drafted by Pittsburgh with the overall 5th pick of the 1957 NFL Draft. Â After 5 uneventful seasons with the Steelers and Cleveland Browns, Dawson joined the AFL's Dallas Texans/K.C. Chiefs franchise in 1962. Following his move to the AFL, Dawson was a 6x AFL All-Star selection and led the Chiefs to an incredible Super Bowl IV win over Minnesota while earning Super Bowl MVP honors. Â Following Dawson's 19-year pro career the Chiefs retired his #16 jersey. Dawson threw for 28,711 yards and compiled a 239/183 TD/Int ratio. Â He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

After earning All-American honors twice as a Boilermaker, Griese was selected with the overall No. 4 pick of the 1967 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Griese played all 14 of his pro seasons with Miami and was a 6x Pro Bowl selection and 2x Super Bowl Champion (VII and VIII) Griese's concluded his NFL career n 1980 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Â His pro career stats saw him pass for 25,092 yards that included a 192/172 TD/Int ratio. Â The Dolphins have retired Griese's No. 12 jersey and he is also included on the Dolphins Honor Roll. Griese was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984.


After rewriting Purdue's passing records and winning the Maxwell Award in 1990, Brees was drafted by the San Diego Chargers with the first pick of the NFL Draft's 2nd round. Â Despite Brees success, the Chargers drafted Phillip Rivers, Brees was released after being injured at the end of the 2005 season. Brees then signed with the Saints and helped saved a franchise reeling from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Â Brees led the franchise to a Super bowl 46 victory and is a multiple NFL All-Pro


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