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Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award
This annual award is intended to provide recognition to a college or professional athlete who exemplified exceptional mental attitude or toughness while competing within the counties covered by this NFF chapter. Exceptional mental attitude includes displays of high academic achievement, superior leadership, dogged determination, tenacity, moral character, bravery, humility and concern for others, in addition to remarkable athletic accomplishments. The award is named in honor of its first recipient, who also assists in the selection process.
Selection process: Nominations are accepted throughout the year from NFF chapter members and considered by the Awards Committee, which recommends no more than one recipient per year. This recommendation must be ratified by the Board of Directors and Drew Brees and the presentation should be made at the annual Honors Dinner.
2005 Honoree: Drew Brees of the San Diego Chargers
2006 Honoree: Rob Ninkovich of Purdue University
2007 Honoree: Rosevelt Colvin of the New England Patriots
2008 Honoree: Nick Hardwick of the San Diego Chargers
2009 Honoree: Akin Ayodele of the Miami Dolphins
2011 Honoree: Ryan Kerrigan of the Washington Redskins
2012 Honoree: Robbie Hummel of the Purdue Boilermakers
2013 Honoree: Ryan Grigson of the Indianapolis Colts
2014 Honoree: Cliff Avril of the Seattle Seahawks
2015 Honoree: Kyle Orton of Buffalo Bills
2016 Honoree: Danny Anthrop of the Indianapolis Colts
2017 Honoree: Roosevelt Barnes and Caleb Swanigan of Purdue University
2018 Honoree: Elijah Sindelar of Purdue University
2019 Honoree: David Blough of Purdue University
2020 Honoree: Raheem Mostert of the San Francisco 49ers
2022 Honoree: Aidan O'Connell of Purdue University
Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell received the Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award.
David Blough won the Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award in 2019. He started the 2018 season backing up Elijah Sinelar before leading Purdue to a second consecutive bowl game by finishing second in the Big Ten in passing yards.
Flanked by Purdue Coach Jeff Brohm and former Boilermaker offensive lineman Kelly Kitchel, Elijah Sindelar received the Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award for his late season heroics playing on a torn ACL.
Danny Anthrop (left) shares a laugh with emcee Nate Barrett as he shares advice on playing college football with his younger brother, Jackson. Anthrop was awarded with the Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award for overcoming an ACL injury to play his senior s
Kyle Orton received the award in 2015 after retiring from a 10-year NFL career in which he threw for 18,037 yards and 101 touchdowns.
Former Purdue defensive end and current Seattle Seahawk Cliff Avril overcame childhood adversity to become the 2014 recipient of the Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award winner.
Indianapolis Colts GM Ryan Grigson garnered Drew Brees Mental Toughness Award honors after overcoming pancreatitis, kidney failure and pneumonia during his playing career at Purdue.
