You can do anything you want to do in life if you work hard enough for it.

That was Drew Brees’ message to his kids on the sidelines Monday night in New Orleans, moments after the Saints quarterback eclipsed Peyton Manning’s NFL career passing yardage record.

It’s a message any kid — let alone a high school football player — should pay attention to.

Brees’ life demonstrates the truth of that message.

This guy stands only six feet tall. That’s almost considered too small to be a high school quarterback today. Unless a team is running an option or veer offense — becoming more and more rare these days — that’s too small to be a major college quarterback.

When Brees was at Purdue, he was sixth on the Boilermakers’ depth chart at quarterback at one point.

Sixth!

No quarterback would stick around under those circumstances today. He would either transfer to another Division I program or drop down to Division II or another level. Ben DiNucci left Pitt after last year rather than be the Panthers’ No. 2 guy. Now he’s starting at James Madison.

Brees became a second-round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers in 2001. Four years later, a major injury to his throwing shoulder threatened his career.

The Chargers let him go to free agency. The Saints took a chance on him. Brees never forgot that.

He could have left New Orleans. He never did. When Hurricane Katrina devastated that city, Brees and his family were in the forefront, helping in its recovery.

Perseverance. Determination. Loyalty. Compassion. Confidence.

Drew Brees has demonstrated all of those qualities. Now he’s on top of the pro football world as a quarterback.

This guy didn’t care about the odds in college and never quit working toward what he wanted to do.

That accomplishment is for him to enjoy.

That journey is for all of us to learn from.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle