Drew Brees may be one of the more recognizable faces in New Orleans, but the quarterback of the city’s pro football team, the Saints, loves nothing more than exploring the world.

 

“My wife and I love to travel,” Brees said. “We take some personal time to travel and experience different cultures. We gain different perspectives by exposing ourselves to different lifestyles.”

 

The Austin, Texas native has journeyed to a wide range of countries in Africa, Asia and Europe and also recounts an unforgettable trip to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

 

While on the set of the NFL PLAYERS “Football Doesn’t Define Me” photo shoot, Brees explains how these experiences define him as a man off of the field, especially on trips affiliated with the United Service Organizations.

 

“I’m a big supporter of the USO,” Brees proudly elaborates. “I feel like our troops deserve all the credit in the world for the sacrifices they make on a daily basis around the world. I feel strongly about going to support them to make sure they know we do appreciate them.”

 

One of his most recent ventures with the USO took him to Okinawa, Japan where he had the rare opportunity to visit the exact location where his grandfather fought during World War II.

 

“I was talking to him on the phone while walking on the beach in Okinawa,” Brees said. “It was so emotional to think my grandfather was out there, 63 years previous, fighting for our country.”

 

Brees reaches for a paint brush while on the set. The 2004 NFL Comeback Player of the Year meticulously prints the word “FAITH” in bold, black block letters. The qualities displayed by soldiers like his grandfather are ones which Brees seeks to display in his own life.

 

“Faith can be broken up into five words, each for a letter in the word,” Brees explains. “Fortitude, Attitude, Integrity, Trust, Humility. I repeat this to myself every day when I think about the traits I would like to have in my life, not only on the field, but off.”

 

The star signal-caller has been striving to exemplify these characteristics since his college days at Purdue. His actions did not go unnoticed, as he was the first recipient of the Socrates Award, an honor given by the NCAA to the student-athlete who best demonstrates excellence in the combined fields of academics, athletics and community service.

 

The MVP candidate remains involved with countless charities despite his demanding responsibilities as a leader and captain of the Saints. He says he gets great joy out of giving back to the communities which fostered him during his football career—West Lafayette, Ind., where he played in college; San Diego, Calif., where he was selected in the second round of the 2001 draft; and New Orleans, where he is now flourishing.

 

One of his favorite events is through his own organization, the Brees Dream Foundation. He facilitates a trip where he and his teammates take 30 children from the Children’s Hospital in New Orleans to go fishing in Venice, La. Proclaiming the spot as some of the best fishing in the world, he explains that it’s not just about letting the patients interact with NFL players, it’s about taking their minds off of treatment.

 

“I want these children to do something they might not have the opportunity to do otherwise,” Brees said. “All of a sudden they’re catching 30-pound redfish, and you can tell it’s the biggest thrill of their lives by the smiles on their faces. You get to help them be in a situation where they’ve just having fun and not worrying about the day-to-day struggles.”

 

Changing from his jeans and black cotton T-shirt into a dapper navy suit, Brees strolls around downtown San Diego. His confident walk and polished appearance are exactly what one would expect from one of the league’s top performers—and genuine “nice guys.”

 

“I’ve been blessed with so many things in my life,” Brees admits between takes. “As a kid, I was given a lot of these opportunities which put me in the position I’m in now. I know there are a lot of children that don’t have those same chances.”

 

As a student at Purdue, he piloted the school’s “Gentle Giants” program for three years, which pit Boilermakers as mentors in elementary school classrooms. Brees had all the makings to be a mentor, as the industrial management and manufacturing major posted a 4.0 GPA during the 2000 spring semester. He is continuing this dedication to education through his foundation’s mission of raising $2 million to continue rebuilding schools, parks, playgrounds and athletic fields and providing mentoring, tutoring, after-school and child-care programs to the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

 

Later, in a powder-blue button-down shirt and tie, the charismatic Brees takes the time to sit outside some familiar San Diego sights to explain what he likes to do for relaxation. While the quarterback has flown with the Blue Angels, when commitments on and off the field keep him grounded, Brees says one of the ways he escapes is by heading out for a relaxing round of golf.

 

“It’s kind of my therapy, my opportunity to get away from it all,” Brees mused. “I can get away from it all yet still be competing while being afforded the chance to appreciate nature. They build golf courses along some of the most beautiful land in the country. You can stare at the ocean or be up in the mountains among the pine trees. It’s therapeutic.”

 

The perpetually-in-motion Brees has even found a way to integrate his side passion into his charity work. He organizes an annual golf tournament in which approximately 50 NFL players compete for supremacy on the links. Brees himself flights the competition according to the players’ handicaps so each person has a chance at a victory.

 

“We always have a fantastic time with this event,” Brees said of the tournament, which was held at Torrey Pines, Calif., the site of the U.S. Open, this year. “We raised a lot of money which we were able to distribute throughout the San Diego community. It was a great opportunity for guys to just take the helmet off. It was actually on TV, and I think fans for to see the players having a good time with each other, across team lines, [helps them] learn more about them as people and community servants.”