The New England Patriots needed a quarterback to close out Saturday night’s preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
They needed a punter, too.
Behren Morton handled both jobs.
The seventh-round rookie finished 13-of-17 for 129 yards and tossed a 37-yard touchdown to Nick DeGennaro with 57 seconds remaining in New England’s 24-21 win.
Earlier in the night, Morton was called on to punt after Bryce Baringer wasn’t feeling well, via Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar.
Morton responded with three punts for 133 yards, including a 48-yarder on his first attempt.
The performance looked unusual for an NFL quarterback, though his football background helps explain why he was ready.
Years before Morton landed in Foxborough, he grew up competing in NFL Punt, Pass and Kick events, played for his father at a small Texas high school and handled punting duties when his team needed him.
Morton’s Forgotten Skill Reappears at Gillette Stadium
GettyFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 13: Behren Morton #15 of the New England Patriots looks to make a handoff in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)
Morton said he hadn’t punted since high school before being pressed into service Saturday.
Head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters that Baringer “wasn’t feeling great” after his first two punts, prompting the Patriots to protect their regular specialist and turn to Morton.
“Tonight was fun. I wasn’t expecting to punt,” Morton said in New England’s postgame coverage.
The rookie didn’t have much time to prepare. He said he went to the sideline net, took a few practice swings and asked the Patriots’ kicker how far he should line up behind the snap.
Then Morton went out and averaged 44.3 yards per punt.
That ability had surfaced long before the Patriots drafted him No. 234 overall in April.
A Patriots.com profile notes that Morton competed in Punt, Pass and Kick events alongside his older sister, Maggie, winning several local and sectional stages.
A 2015 Midland Reporter-Telegram story detailed how the siblings advanced to the Cowboys’ team championship at AT&T Stadium.
Morton was 13 at the time.
The connection became even more fitting Saturday.
Patriots game notes said Morton punted in high school because his team consisted of only 25 players. More than a decade later, a similar willingness to fill an unexpected role helped New England get through a preseason game.
Football Has Always Been Family Business for Patriots Rookie
Morton’s route to the NFL was shaped by football well before he became a Texas Tech quarterback.
He was born in Lubbock, Texas, while his father, James, was coaching at Monterey High School.
His father’s coaching career later took the family to Midland and then Eastland, where James coached his son throughout his high school career.
The Patriots’ profile notes that his father played running back at West Texas A&M before getting an NFL opportunity with Tampa Bay.
Coaching became the family profession, and Morton grew up around the game.
His connection to Texas Tech started early, too.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football reported that Morton spent his first 11 years in Lubbock. As a kindergartner, he was paired with a Texas Tech player through a school buddy program, an experience that helped fuel his dream of someday quarterbacking the Red Raiders.
Morton eventually fulfilled it.
He started 36 of 45 career games, threw 71 touchdown passes and helped Texas Tech reach the College Football Playoff in his final season.
Now he is trying to turn that football upbringing into a long-term role in New England.
Against Philadelphia, an old skill resurfaced at exactly the right time.
Patriots Rookie’s Unique Football Past Comes Full Circle vs. Eagles