Drew Bledsoe Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Drew Bledsoe’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $30 million, Drew Bledsoe is a retired American football player known for his successful career as a professional quarterback in the NFL, where he played for 14 seasons, predominantly with the New England Patriots. During his time with the Patriots, he played eight seasons and was instrumental in ending a seven-year postseason drought, as well as securing two division titles and reaching the Super Bowl in 1997.

Before the start of the 2001 season, Drew inked a groundbreaking NFL contract with the Patriots, which was a 10-year deal worth $103 million. Unfortunately, in the second game of the following season, he endured a severe injury caused by a hit from Jets linebacker Mo Lewis that resulted in a severed blood vessel. At that time, his backup was an unfamiliar sixth-round draft pick who had only attempted three passes in his rookie season, Tom Brady. Brady quickly became a standout player for the team, earning the starting quarterback position over Bledsoe and leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl triumph that season. Bledsoe ultimately departed from the Patriots, concluding his NFL tenure with the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. Nonetheless, throughout his career, Drew Bledsoe earned approximately $80 million in salary despite the challenges he faced with Brady and the Patriots.

Early Life and High School

Drew Bledsoe was born on February 14, 1972, in Ellensburg, Washington, to parents who were educators. His family frequently relocated during his childhood before finally establishing themselves in Walla Walla. While attending high school there, Bledsoe played for the football team under the guidance of his father and also participated in basketball and track, earning letters in those sports.

Collegiate Career

Receiving significant attention from college recruiters, Bledsoe eventually chose to enroll at the nearby Washington State University. His collegiate football career at the institution spanned three years and was marked by record-setting accomplishments, making him a key player for the Cougars’ offense. In 1992, he led his team to a 9-3 overall record and secured a victory over Utah in the Copper Bowl. Additionally, he established several WSU records in multiple passing categories and earned the title of Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year.

New England Patriots

Opting to skip his senior year at WSU, Bledsoe entered the 1993 NFL Draft, where he was selected first overall by the New England Patriots. He soon established himself as a pivotal player for the team, significantly enhancing the Patriots’ prospects. In 1994, he guided the team to a 10-6 record, securing a wild card position. After a disappointing performance in 1995, Bledsoe rebounded strongly in 1996 by leading the Patriots to an AFC championship title and a place in Super Bowl XXXI, though the team ultimately fell to the Green Bay Packers. In 1997, once again, Bledsoe contributed to the team’s playoff appearance, even though they were defeated in the second round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nevertheless, he finished the season with a personal best of 87.7 passer rating. His success continued into 1998, where he became the first NFL quarterback to throw game-winning touchdown passes within the final 30 seconds of two consecutive games, leading the Patriots to another playoff appearance.

However, Bledsoe’s performance took a downturn in 1999 when he was sacked a career-high 55 times, resulting in the Patriots ending the season with an 8-8 record. The following year proved to be even more challenging with the team finishing with a poor 5-11 record. In 2001, Bledsoe re-signed with the Patriots, securing a ten-year contract valued at a then-record $103 million. Unfortunately, fate was not on his side; during the second game of the season, he endured a near-fatal injury after he

Drew Bledsoe was impacted when New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis collided with him. As a result, Bledsoe lost his starting position to Tom Brady, although he made a comeback to win the AFC championship game. With Brady as the quarterback, the Patriots celebrated a victory in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Buffalo Bills

In 2002, Bledsoe found himself traded to the Buffalo Bills, a rival of the Patriots. His inaugural season with the Bills was incredibly fruitful, as he threw for 4,359 yards and achieved 24 touchdowns. One highlight of his performance came during a Week 2 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings, where he established a team record with 463 passing yards. Although Bledsoe played well in 2003, the team suffered from significant injuries within their offensive lineup. In his final year with the Bills, they narrowly missed out on the playoffs by just one game.

Dallas Cowboys

Following his release from the Bills, Bledsoe joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2005. During his impressive first season with the Cowboys, he exceeded 3,000 passing yards and directed several successful fourth-quarter and overtime game-winning drives, leading the team to a 9-7 record. However, his second and final year in 2006 was considerably less successful, resulting in his replacement by Tony Romo just six games into the season. Ultimately, Bledsoe was released after the conclusion of the season and announced his retirement from the NFL in April 2007.

Personal Life & Winery

Bledsoe shares four children—Stuart, Henry, John, and Healy—with his wife Maura. While living in Bend, Oregon, Bledsoe coached his sons Stuart and John at Summit High School.

After retiring from the NFL in 2007, he co-founded Doubleback Winery alongside his friend Chris Figgins. In 2014, Figgins exited the business, transferring his stake to his protégé Josh McDaniels. Soon after, Bledsoe and McDaniels acquired an 80-acre vineyard in Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Primarily, Doubleback Winery produces Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bend Mansion

In 2004, after retiring, Drew and his wife purchased a 10-acre estate in a gated community named Highlands at Broken Top, in Bend, Oregon, for $750,000. They then built a sprawling 15,000-square-foot mansion with seven bedrooms, featuring breathtaking views of the Cascade mountains. The property was listed for $9.5 million in 2014, and a sale for $5.6 million was accepted in June 2020. Unfortunately, their timing was somewhat unfortunate as, within a couple of years post-sale, the house’s value escalated significantly, potentially reaching as much as $15 million based on comparable sales. Here is a video tour: