Drew Brees Pays $264K for John Wooden Jersey to Display at Purdue's Mackey Arena

Kyle Newport @@KyleNewportFeatured ColumnistMay 31, 2018

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2009, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) steps back to pass in the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins during an NFL football game in Miami. Perhaps the secret to NFL perfection is having a Purdue quarterback on your roster. Don't believe it? The Saints, Broncos and Colts are a combined 18-0 this season, the only unbeaten teams in the league. New Orleans has Drew Brees and Denver has Kyle Orton, while the backup in Indianapolis is former Boilermaker Curtis Painter. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

John Wooden is best known for being a legendary coach of the UCLA Bruins, but he spent his playing days in a Purdue Boilermakers uniform.

Now, the uniform he wore from 1930-32 will hang in Purdue's Mackey Arena forever—and it's all thanks to Drew Brees.

Brees, who played in West Lafayette from 1997-2000, recently dropped $264,000 at an auction to take ownership of a Wooden Purdue jersey, per Nathan Baird of the Journal & Courier. He came forward on Twitter to let Boilermakers fans know that he did so in order to make sure the uniform gets a proper home.

Purdue Men’s Basketball @BoilerBall
John Wooden’s #Purdue jersey is coming home. Thanks for making it happen @drewbrees. #Family https://t.co/sqEiQlI9Cc

"The first words out of my mouth to him upon finding out the John Wooden jersey would be made available to the public was, 'We have to get this for Purdue University. This jersey belongs in Mackey Arena back at Purdue.'"

Brees signed a $50 million contract back in March, so he can afford to spend a quarter of a million dollars for his alma mater.