Connected sports records
Season reference · 2000–2011
Year by year
Season statistics: TBD.
01 / Biography
Life and background
A different route through Ohio State
Drake was born in Cleveland on December 22, 1977. Unlike Jace, he was not initially an elite football prospect. He wanted to play wide receiver but struggled badly enough that he was moved to quarterback.
He developed into a three-star project quarterback whose mobility and athletic upside kept scouts interested. By his junior and senior seasons at Ohio State, he was the starter, playing alongside Jace. Their father coached Ohio State from 1990–2010.
Arizona selected him in the second round in 2000 largely for his developmental athletic upside, rather than polished traditional quarterback play.
Arizona and Denver
Drake played quarterback for Arizona from 2000–2005, then spent 2006 with Denver. Rushing was central to his game, and he also earned four consecutive First-Team All-Pro selections as a punt returner from 2003–2006.
His Denver tenure ended after a contract dispute. He joined New England in 2007.
The running-back experiment
New England proposed converting Drake to running back—something he had never seriously considered. He was initially offended. He saw himself as a quarterback and did not appreciate being told his future might lie at another position.
Drake agreed to the position change. In 2007 he rushed for 1,844 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning First-Team All-Pro honors at running back.
Back to quarterback in San Francisco
Drake joined San Francisco in 2008 and returned to quarterback, retaining his rushing ability as a central part of his game. He remained one of the generation’s most unusual offensive weapons rather than one of its greatest traditional quarterbacks.
His career ended after injuries in 2011, including a ruptured Achilles tendon and torn wrist ligaments. He went 2–6 as a starter that season.
Life and legacy
Drake never married and has no children. His twin brother is Jace Calloway.
He finished with seven Pro Bowls, one First-Team All-Pro selection at running back and four as a punt returner. He appeared in and won one Super Bowl. He is not considered a Hall of Fame player; his legacy is his unusual versatility.
02 / Career & Football Identity
The player and the résumé
Drake Calloway’s career was defined by versatility rather than traditional quarterback greatness. He could play quarterback, convert to running back and excel as a return specialist.
The twin brother of receiver Jace Calloway, Drake forced teams to find ways to use his athletic ability even when he did not fit neatly into one position.
04 / Relationships
People in the record
05 / Legacy & Analysis
What the life and résumé mean
Drake earned All-Pro recognition at running back and punt returner in addition to his years as a starting quarterback.