Over 14 seasons in the NFL, Chase Daniel saw it all — star quarterbacks, Super Bowl champions, and locker rooms filled with personalities. He shared quarterback rooms with legends, helped mentor rookies, and soaked up lessons from coaches and teammates alike.
So when Daniel wrote a column for The Athletic about the best leader he ever played with, the choice was evident. He broke down what separated one legendary quarterback from the rest.
New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees Set Gold Standard of Leadership in NFL
“I was fortunate enough to play in the NFL for 14 years,” Daniel wrote. “I had hundreds and hundreds of teammates during that time. But when I was asked recently who the best leader I ever played with was, I knew the answer instantly: Drew Brees, hands down.”
That kind of praise didn’t come lightly. Daniel explained that leadership in the NFL takes many forms — some players lead by example, others by what they say. But Brees, he said, brought it all. “Drew is one of the only leaders I know who checked every one of those boxes. He was special.”
Brees’ career backs up the praise. The former Saints and Chargers quarterback retired in 2021 as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (80,358) at the time, along with 571 touchdown passes and a career 67.7% completion rate. He was a 13-time Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl MVP, and widely respected across the league.
Now, Brees is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026 — and he’s considered a lock for first-ballot induction. Alongside other legends like Larry Fitzgerald, Jason Witten, and Frank Gore, Brees enters the ballot with elite credentials: Record-setting stats, a Super Bowl title, a Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, and the Bert Bell Award.
But for Daniel, the stats were just the surface. “He treated everyone the same, from his backup to the janitor,” he wrote. “He never acted as if he was above anybody, and he made everyone feel special and important.”
Daniel also recalled how seriously Brees took even the smallest details — like leading pregame chants. “He’d spend a month in the offseason figuring out what to say. Then he’d rehearse until he got it just right. He cared about every. single. thing.”
And that commitment was contagious. “Drew loved the process so much that he made me fall in love with the process,” Daniel wrote. “That’s what good leaders do. They set the course, and they make it seem like they love the process.”
Even after a Super Bowl win in 2010, Brees was the first one back on the field, pushing through offseason drills while others were still catching their breath. That approach stuck with Daniel long after he hung up the cleats.
“The way Drew approached leadership — with consistency, care, and total buy-in — shaped how I try to lead in everything I do now,” Daniel said. “You can’t fake it. You have to live it.”
And all these years later, the bond is still strong. “I still text Drew every now and then for advice,” Daniel wrote. “Whether it’s about football or life stuff, he’s always willing to share a little wisdom. That’s just who he is.”
