The Truth About The Mark On Drew Brees' Face

Drew Brees is the holder of one of the most memorable careers in the NFL. When Brees announced his retirement in March 2021, he held the title of leader in passing yards and completions, as Sports Illustrated noted. The former quarterback, who spent 15 of his 20-year career with the New Orleans Saints, also famously led the team to their only Super Bowl title in 2010 and was elected MVP, making him a "Saints legend" and a beloved symbol in New Orleans, according to the NFL.

"You have molded me, strengthened me, inspired me, and given me a lifetime of memories," Brees said of the Saints in his retirement announcement on Instagram. "My goal for the last 15 years was striving to give to you everything you had given to me and more." But Brees has been shining his whole life. Not only did he become one of the Big Ten's best quarterbacks in history while representing Purdue, the athlete also graduated from the prestigious university with a degree in industrial management, according to the school's website. With physical and intellectual intelligence, Brees seems to have had it all. 

None of that, however, kept the football legend from being on the receiving end of bullying during his youth. The reason? The mark he has on his right cheek, just below the eye. As Brees spent most of his televised time wearing his fleur-de-lis-emblazoned gold helmet, many of us might not have even noticed it. But his young peers wouldn't give it a rest.

Drew Brees' facial mark (seen above) might look like a scar, but he actually had it his whole life, he told CNN in 2012. And having it wasn't always easy. "Because of my birthmark, which I was obviously born with, I got all kinds of comments when I was a kid. 'Wipe that whatever off your face.' This and that. I got all kinds of nicknames. People called me Spot," Brees said. 

While the future record-shattering quarterback knew his peers had the worst intentions, he also had the perfect reason to brush them all off. "I just remember my mom telling me when I was a kid, 'Hey, that's where an angel kissed you. So, nobody can say anything.' Which, I guess that's the way I handled it," he said, adding he thinks that is why he learned to use "it as motivation." And as such, his birthmark became a trait that set him apart from others. "Instead of seeing it as a bad thing, I chose to see it as something that made me unique and special," he wrote in his 2010 book "Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity" (via ABC News). 

Despite having earned millions in his career, Brees never considered removing it. "I wouldn't consider cutting off my arm. Neither would I cut off my birthmark," he wrote. It sure sounds like Brees' parents did a great job teaching him to stand above bullying and see the bigger picture!