Editing Drew Brees (section)

====Early career====
{{See also|2001 San Diego Chargers season|2002 San Diego Chargers season|2003 San Diego Chargers season}}
In his rookie season, Brees was the backup quarterback to [[Doug Flutie]], who started all 16 games that season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 San Diego Chargers Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2001.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715162636/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2001.htm |archive-date=July 15, 2019 |access-date=August 18, 2019 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> Brees played in his first professional game on November 4, 2001, against the [[2001 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] in Week 8. He came into the game to relieve Flutie, who had suffered a concussion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roesch |first=Wesley |date=October 20, 2016 |title=Throwback Thursday: Chiefs defeated Drew Brees in his 1st career game |url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2016/10/20/throwback-thursday-chiefs-defeated-drew-brees-in-his-1st-career-game/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818194016/https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2016/10/20/throwback-thursday-chiefs-defeated-drew-brees-in-his-1st-career-game/ |archive-date=August 18, 2019 |access-date=August 18, 2019 |website=Chiefs Wire |publisher=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> He finished with 221 passing yards and his first career passing touchdown, a 20-yard pass to [[Freddie Jones (American football)|Freddie Jones]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – November 4th, 2001 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200111040sdg.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051638/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200111040sdg.htm |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> The game against the Chiefs was Brees's lone appearance as a rookie.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drew Brees 2001 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BreeDr00/gamelog/2001 |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

On August 19, 2002, Brees was named the starter for the [[2002 NFL season|2002 season]] over Doug Flutie.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 19, 2002 |title=Brees named Chargers' starting QB |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/2002/08/19/Brees-named-Chargers-starting-QB/9221029729600/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217014338/https://www.upi.com/Archives/2002/08/19/Brees-named-Chargers-starting-QB/9221029729600/ |archive-date=December 17, 2017 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |website=[[United Press International]]}}</ref>  He started all 16 games for the Chargers. The season started off well for the Chargers with a 6–1 start, but faded down the stretch with a 2–7 record over the last nine games to finish 8–8.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 San Diego Chargers Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2002.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715183936/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2002.htm |archive-date=July 15, 2019 |access-date=August 18, 2019 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> He finished the 2002 season with 3,284 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drew Brees 2002 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BreeDr00/gamelog/2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231155349/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BreeDr00/gamelog/2002 |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

In Week 4 of the 2003 season, Brees recorded a 21-yard touchdown reception on a pass thrown by LaDainian Tomlinson in the 34–31 overtime loss to the [[2003 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2003 |title=OT Victory has Raiders on Upswing |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2003-09-29-0309290341-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829165906/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2003-09-29-0309290341-story.html |archive-date=August 29, 2019 |access-date=August 29, 2019 |website=[[Orlando Sentinel]]}}</ref> After a disappointing 1–7 start to the [[2003 NFL season|2003 season]], Brees was replaced by Flutie, though he regained the job by Week 15.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Triplett |first=Mike |date=November 20, 2015 |title=Drew Brees recalls game that saved his job, catapulted career |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-orleans-saints/post/_/id/19507 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820152108/https://www.espn.com/blog/new-orleans-saints/post/_/id/19507 |archive-date=August 20, 2019 |access-date=August 20, 2019 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2003 San Diego Chargers Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2003.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715173924/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/2003.htm |archive-date=July 15, 2019 |access-date=August 18, 2019 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> In 11 games, he finished with 2,108 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drew Brees 2003 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BreeDr00/gamelog/2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231155410/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BreeDr00/gamelog/2003 |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>