12. Drew Brees
After shattering all sorts of Big 10 records as the quarterback of the Purdue University Boilermakers, Brees got off to a slow start in the NFL, after being drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2001. In 2005, Brees tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder, and people wondered if his career would ever take off. But once he got to New Orleans and teamed up with head coach Sean Payton, Brees became one of the most productive passers in NFL history. The nine-time Pro Bowl selection led the league in passing yards seven different times between 2006 and 2016, including setting a new single-season passing record in 2011 with 5,416 yards. Brees is the only player in NFL history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in five different seasons. No other quarterback in NFL history has done it more than once in their career.