What is Drew Bledsoe's Net Worth?
Drew Bledsoe is a former American football player with a net worth of $30 million. Known for his tenure as a professional football quarterback, Bledsoe played 14 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the New England Patriots. During his time with the Patriots, he ended a seven-year postseason drought, clinched two division titles, and took the team to the Super Bowl in 1997.
Prior to the 2001 season, Drew signed a then-record-breaking NFL contract with the Patriots—a 10-year, $103 million deal. However, during the second game of that season, he suffered a severe injury due to a hit by Jets linebacker Mo Lewis, which led to a sheared blood vessel. His backup, Tom Brady, took over and led the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory that season. Although Bledsoe was eventually released from the team, he finished his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys, earning around $80 million in NFL salary.
Early Life and High School
Drew Bledsoe was born on February 14, 1972, in Ellensburg, Washington. His parents were both school teachers, and the family moved frequently before settling in Walla Walla. Bledsoe attended high school there, playing football under his father's coaching. He also excelled in basketball and track.
Collegiate Career
Heavily recruited out of high school, Bledsoe chose to attend Washington State University. Over three years, he had a record-setting collegiate football career, leading the Cougars' offense. In 1992, he led his team to a 9-3 record and a victory in the Copper Bowl, setting WSU records in multiple categories, including single-game and single-season passing yards. He was named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year.
New England Patriots
Skipping his senior year, Bledsoe entered the 1993 NFL Draft and was the first overall selection by the New England Patriots. He quickly revitalized the team, leading them to a 10-6 record and a wild card spot in 1994. In 1996, he led the Patriots to an AFC Championship title and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXI. Although they lost to the Green Bay Packers, Bledsoe's performance earned him a career-high 87.7 passer rating. Despite a decline in 1999, he re-signed with the Patriots in 2001 on a ten-year contract worth $103 million. However, an injury sidelined him, and Tom Brady took over, leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory.
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Buffalo Bills
In 2002, Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills, where he had a remarkable first season, passing for 4,359 yards and 24 touchdowns. One of his standout performances was in a Week 2 overtime win against the Minnesota Vikings, where he set a team record with 463 yards passing. Despite challenges in subsequent seasons, he came close to leading the Bills to the playoffs before his departure.
Dallas Cowboys
After his release from the Bills, Bledsoe signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2005. He threw for over 3,000 yards and led multiple game-winning drives during his first season, resulting in a 9-7 record. However, his second season in 2006 saw a decline in performance, leading to his replacement by Tony Romo. Bledsoe retired from the NFL in April 2007.
Personal Life & Winery
With his wife Maura, Bledsoe has four children: Stuart, Henry, John, and Healy. Living in Bend, Oregon, Bledsoe coached his sons at Summit High School. After retiring from the NFL, he co-founded Doubleback Winery with Chris Figgins. In 2014, Figgins left the business, passing it to Josh McDaniels. Bledsoe and McDaniels purchased an 80-acre property in Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills AVA, producing mainly Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Bend Mansion
In 2004, Bledsoe and his wife bought a 10-acre property in Bend, Oregon for $750,000 and built a 15,000-square-foot mansion. Listed for $9.5 million in 2014, they sold it for $5.6 million in June 2020. The timing was unfortunate, as the property value significantly increased shortly after the sale.
