Drew Brees achieved a similar level of academic success on and off the field, sending a powerful message to our young people that you don’t have to sacrifice your classroom work to make it to the Super Bowl.

DALLAS, Jan. 25, 2010 – For the first time ever, the Super Bowl will feature two starting quarterbacks who have each claimed an NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award. Campbell Trophy winner Peyton Manning, who claimed NFF honors at Tennessee in 1997, will be starting for the Indianapolis Colts while Drew Brees, who was recognized in 2000 for his accomplishments at Purdue, will be the signal caller for the New Orleans Saints.

A total of six NFF National Scholar-Athletes are playing in the Super Bowl XLIV this year. The Saints roster includes NFF National Scholar-Athletes Jonathan Vilma (Miami, 2003), Jon Stinchcomb (Georgia, 2002), and Chase Daniel (Missouri, 2008) while Jacob Tamme (Kentucky, 2007) will suit up for the Colts.

“The NFF National Scholar-Athletes who will be playing in the 2010 Super Bowl are amazing examples of individuals who learned to apply the same focus, determination and will to succeed from football to all aspects of their lives,” said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. “It will be fun to watch them in the big game in a couple weeks, and we know that their great football success will be followed by equal or greater success later in life.”

Manning also becomes the first NFF National Scholar-Athlete to make a second appearance in the Super Bowl as a quarterback. Other NFF National Scholar-Athletes who have quarterbacked a Super Bowl team include Jeff Hostetler (West Virginia, 1983) for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV, Steve Young (BYU, 1983) for the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX, Manning for the Indianapolis Colts in 2007, and Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003) for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

Peyton Manning is also one of only two individuals to claim the NFF’s Campbell Trophy, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award, and to appear in a Super Bowl. Campbell Trophy winner Matt Sinchcomb (Georgia, 1998) played for the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Matt is the brother of Jon, who is playing in this year’s game for the Saints.

Many other NFF National Scholar-Athletes have appeared in Super Bowls, including notables Harris Barton (North Carolina, 1986) for the San Francisco 49ers, Darrin Smith (Miami, Fla., 1992) for the Dallas Cowboys, Derrick Brooks (Florida State, 1994) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Tiki Barber (Virginia, 1996) for the New York Giants.

“The only conflict more painful than having to choose between rooting for my hometown Saints and the Colts led by Peyton would have had to been choosing between my two favorite NFF National Scholar-Athletes,” said National Football Foundation (NFF) Chairman Archie Manning, the father of Peyton and Eli. “I have always been extremely proud that my sons excelled in the classroom and earned honors as NFF National Scholar-Athletes. The fact that Drew Brees also achieved a similar level of academic success sends a powerful message to our young people that you don’t have to sacrifice your classroom work to make it to the Super Bowl.”

Launched in 1959, The NFF’s National Scholar-Athlete program became the first initiative in history to award post graduate scholarships for combined athletic, academic and leadership abilities. Each NFF National Scholar-Athlete receives an $18,000 scholarship for his post-graduate studies. A total of $9.2 million has been disbursed to 724 top athletes since the program’s inception. The Campbell Trophy, added in 1990 as the centerpiece of the NFF scholar-athlete program, was formerly known as the Draddy Trophy until 2009 and is endowed by the HealthSouth Corporation. It selects one member of the National Scholar-Athlete Class as the absolute best in the nation.

NFF