Drew Brees

Few sportsmen encapsulate the spirit of the city in which they play in the way Drew Brees does. The former San Diego quarterback was let go by the Chargers in 2005 after an injury to his shoulder but signed for the New Orleans Saints for the start of the 2006 season. Showing the sort of integrity and resolve that would come to define the Big Easy after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina – which hit the south east coastline of the USA six months before Brees signed for the Saints – "Cool Brees" made an astonishing comeback to form and led the team to its first Super Bowl, beating the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Miami. Brees was named MVP and became a legend in New Orleans – their favourite quarterback since Archie Manning.