Drake Maye has seen a major jump from his rookie to his second season in the NFL, thanks to being the undisputed starter.
Maye and the Patriots are currently tied for the best record in the league at 11-2 and have a real opportunity to win the AFC East for the first time since the 2019 season.
The former North Carolina Tar Heel has the second-most passing yards (3,412) and fourth-most passing touchdowns (26) in the league through 13 games this season. Maye has the highest completion percentage in the league out of quarterbacks who have thrown for more than 200 passes at 71.5%.
With how Maye is performing, an NFL analyst believes a Patriots coordinator may be in line for a head coaching job following the development of the QB.
Patriots May Lose On Coordinator
GettyDrake Maye could lose a coach who is crucial to his development
Some of the quarterback’s success can be attributed to head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The pair had faith in Drake Maye to be a starter and it has paid off tremendously. Besides Vrabel and McDaniels, passing game coordinator Thomas Brown has been a key piece of Maye’s development.
The Patriots’ pass game is averaging 249.7 yards per game and 8.7 pass yards per attempt, which are both the second-most in the league.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report names the Patriots’ passing game coordinator, Thomas Brown, as a coordinator who should be getting calls to become a head coach next season.
“While the continued success of [Sam] Darnold has been a notable NFL storyline this season, it has paled in comparison to the emergence of Drake Maye as a legitimate MVP candidate. McDaniels and head coach Mike Vrabel deserve a ton of credit for Maye’s ascension, but the former may never get a third chance, and the latter isn’t going anywhere,” Knox wrote.
“However, teams looking at Maye’s development and thinking, ‘I want a piece of that,’ may have a shot at landing passing game coordinator and tight ends coach Thomas Brown. Brown has some head coaching experience, after serving as the Chicago Bears‘ interim coach when Matt Eberflus was fired last season. That brief stint didn’t go well, but the 39-year-old is viewed as a rising coach and also comes from the McVay tree.”
Brown has six years of NFL coaching experience and some head coaching experience as an interim and a couple of seasons as an offensive coordinator.
Where Will Thomas Brown Land?
GettyJaxson Dart #6 of the New York Giants
The only two teams in the NFL without a head coach are the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants. If Thomas Brown is sought after in the head coaching market, either of these teams will be good options for him.
Both teams have rookie quarterbacks who would prefer offensive-minded coaches who can contribute to their development.
Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart are showing signs that they could shine in the league and with a good coach assisting, could bring the best out of the players.
Outside of quarterbacks, both teams have the resources to help them build up a roster to be in contention in a couple of seasons.
There should be a few more head coaching jobs opening up when the season ends, but these two spots would be the best spots for Brown to find some success.
Patriots Coordinator Touted As Top Coaching Option In 2026 Cycle