Drew Brees has experienced almost everything. Super Bowl glory, MVP awards, and countless NFL records etched to his name. But ask him today, and he will tell you that his proudest moments aren’t about him, they are about his son, Baylen.

Baylen is not only making plays in Santa Fe Christian High School. But also takes care of his father’s legacy. Another such small but heartfelt gesture by Baylan swelled Drew’s chest with pride.

Drew hails from Texas but became an adopted icon for Louisiana, especially when he won his only Super Bowl in 2009 with the New Orleans Saints. Now his son is taking forward his dad’s legacy. Recently, Drew posted on Instagram a picture of his wide receiver and cornerback son’s helmet. In the post, he proudly focuses on the Louisiana state flag that is imprinted on the back of his helmet. “Just a Louisiana boy carrying it with him wherever he goes! I see you, Baylen Brees!” Drew captioned the post.

The New Orleans Saints’ legend has managed to keep this special family tradition alive. Last year, before his wide receiver son Bowen’s Pop Warner championship game, Drew shared a social media post with a handwritten “helmet note”. A personal message tucked inside his gear for inspiration. The Hall of Famer reminded his son that what matters the most, “Be the best you can be today, do your best, have fun, never quit!”

“Bowen, I want you to know how proud I am of you! You have dedicated yourself to being the best you can be this fall. You have battled through injury and have sacrificed a lot of time,” Drew wrote.

He added, “You didn’t always love what you were being asked to do. But you pushed through and did it anyways. That is discipline and toughness! Some of the happiest moments in my life are watching you play! I love the way you break the huddle and sprint to the ball to get lined up. Your attitude, poise, and confidence are contagious.”

Drew have been very vocal about his sons’ achievements on social media and often goes to their games to support them from the stands.

Drew Brees embraces his “second chapter” as coach

Football has always been a part of the Brees’ DNA. But after two decades leading the New Orleans Saints, the NFL legend has turned his off-field playbook to a new chapter. The one that is centered around his family.

Last year in April, in an episode of Making Space with Hoda Kotb, Drew spoke about his life after retirement, his kids, and why coaching has become his passion. In the conversation with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, Drew said that this is the stage of his life where he exactly wanted to be. “This is what I wanted to do in my second chapter,” Brees explained.

“Honestly, it goes back to the old adage about it takes a village to raise a child. I want to be that influence in other kids’ lives as well. So being a coach, yes, it’s about spending more time with my kids. But it’s also about being able to influence their friends and being ‘Coach Drew’ to them in a really positive way.”

Jenna couldn’t resist teasing him, “It might be slightly intimidating to have Drew Brees as your coach.” 

Drew laughed and admitted that he sometimes dials back to his trademark of being competitive. “I have a certain level of intensity that I have to tone down at times.”

He added, “I asked the kids to forgive me ahead of time. I just ask them, ‘Do you want to be great?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you want me to coach you hard?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘OK, here we go.’”

For Brees, the rewards go beyond just winning and losing. “I have a chance to be a powerful influence in the lives of those kids,” he said. “Honestly, I think there’s nothing that gives me more pride than walking around my kids’ school and them calling me Coach Drew.”