The New England Patriots have brought back Josh McDaniels as their offensive coordinator, which could be great news for quarterback Drake Maye.
Although McDaniels struggled in his two head-coaching opportunities, his reputation as an offensive strategist remains strong, thanks to his past success with the Patriots. However, much of that success came with Tom Brady at quarterback, so this time around could present a different challenge.
That said, the Patriots appear to have a talented young quarterback in Maye. During an interview on Julian Edelman’s Games With Names podcast last summer, McDaniels explained his approach to developing young quarterbacks.
“You need a clear plan that aligns with the head coach’s vision,” McDaniels said. “It’s important to gradually introduce concepts to the player and meet him at his current skill level. Whether it was Matt Cassel, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jarrett Stidham, Jacoby Brissett, Mac Jones, or Aidan O’Connell, the key is to understand where they are and build from there.”
After replacing Brissett as the starter in mid-October, Maye threw for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, completing 66.6% of his passes with an 88.1 passer rating across 13 games, including 12 starts. He also contributed 421 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
McDaniels emphasized the importance of pacing the learning process, saying, “There are many factors involved, but understanding the player’s progress is crucial. You can’t overwhelm him with too much information at once.”
Maye demonstrated significant potential in his rookie season, and it will be interesting to see how McDaniels helps him develop further in 2025.
