Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former American football quarterback in the NFL, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2000. During the 1990s and early 2000s, he was perceived to be the face of the Patriots franchise. Bledsoe, an All-American for the Washington State Cougars and former #1 overall draft pick in the 1993 NFL Draft, announced his retirement from the sport on April 11, 2007.