Ranking the top 50 quarterbacks in NFL history…
37. Drew Bledsoe
Drafted first overall by the New England Patriots in 1993 out of Washington State University, Bledsoe revitalized a struggling franchise, becoming the youngest quarterback to start a full season at age 21 and injecting hope with his prodigious talent.
Over nine seasons with the Patriots (1993-2001), he set franchise records with 29,657 passing yards, 2,544 completions and 166 touchdowns.
His breakout 1994 season featured 4,555 yards and 25 touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl. In 1996, Bledsoe led New England to Super Bowl XXXI with 4,086 yards and 27 scores, though they lost to the Green Bay Packers.
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He orchestrated numerous fourth-quarter comebacks, including a record-setting 1998 game with 455 yards against Minnesota. A severe injury in 2001 sidelined him, paving the way for Tom Brady, but Bledsoe returned to contribute to the Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXVI win as a backup.
Traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2002, he threw for 4,359 yards and earned a Pro Bowl nod. His final stint with the Dallas Cowboys (2005-2006) saw him pass for 3,639 yards in 2005 before being replaced by Tony Romo.
Bledsoe’s career totals include 44,611 passing yards, 251 touchdowns and 206 interceptions in 194 games. He made four Pro Bowls (1994, 1996, 1997, 2002) and holds the record for most pass attempts in a game (70).
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Bledsoe’s playing style was that of a classic pocket gunslinger: statuesque, deliberate and fearless in airing it out deep.
