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
Len Dawson
The former Boilermaker QB was drafted
by Pittsburgh with the overall 5th pick of
the 1957 NFL Draft. 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. 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. He
was inducted into the Pro Football Hall
of Fame in 1987.
Bob Griese
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. His pro
career stats saw him pass for 25,092
yards that included a 192/172 TD/Int
ratio. 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.
Drew Brees
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. 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. Brees
led the franchise to a Super bowl 46
victory and is a multiple NFL All-Pro
