New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye exceeded all expectations in year two, guiding New England to a Super Bowl appearance and finishing as the runner-up in NFL MVP voting.
Much of the credit has been dispersed to head coach Mike Vrabel, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and the rest of the brand-new coaching staff in Foxboro.
The latest news from New England confirms that, despite the staff’s rampant success, many of the personnel will remain in the same positions for the 2026 season.
This includes quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, who has built a strong relationship with the young gunslinger.
“Patriots QB coach Ashton Grant has decided to remain in New England rather than discuss the vacant offensive coordinator job with the Las Vegas Raiders,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. “Grant now officially will be staying in New England to continue helping with the development of Drake Maye.”
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He and McDaniels will provide a sort of stability that Maye has not experienced in the coaching staff in his adult life, as Evan Lazar of Patriots.com pointed out.
“With QB coach Ashton Grant staying with the Patriots, a reminder that Drake Maye has had a different OC every year since his redshirt freshman season at UNC,” Lazar wrote.
The importance of consistent messaging can not be understated, and it is a luxury many contenders do not have.
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Just this past coaching cycle, NFC Championship Game participants, the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams, lost their offensive coordinators to head coaching jobs. The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers fired their OCs while the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers each scrapped long-term head coaches.
Maye took the Patriots to the Super Bowl in year one of McDaniels’ system, and now the two loudest voices in his ears will return to run it back.
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The sky is the limit in year three.
Featured image via Eric Canha-Imagn Images
