The Patriots’ future was at stake when Josh McDaniels returned to Foxborough to take over as offensive coordinator. It wasn’t just about reliving the past. The man who helped shape Tom Brady’s best years, McDaniels, is now responsible for shaping Drake Maye, the NFL’s youngest starting quarterback. This is more than just a coaching hire for Maye. It has a direct connection to the greatness standard.

Josh McDaniels knows Tom Brady better than most coaches in NFL history. McDaniels was Brady’s offensive coordinator for 11 of his 20 seasons in New England, including the historic 2007 season, the MVP run of 50 touchdowns, and four Super Bowl victories. Along with Brady, he developed game plans. On The Herd, McDaniels disclosed that he and Brady exchanged “pages-long” emails every week. Modifying plays according to Brady’s preferences, dislikes, or desires. Although that degree of quarterback control is uncommon, it is expected under McDaniels’ approach.

And it’s Maye’s turn now. Maye is joining the Erhardt-Perkins offence after playing his rookie season in a West Coast system under Alex Van Pelt, where the centre was in charge of most line modifications. The quarterback is given a lot more responsibility under the McDaniels scheme, particularly when it comes to pre-snap reads and decision-making. The same environment in which Brady flourished.

According to McDaniels, this dynamic depends on the quarterback’s cooperation and involvement. “I think that’s what you have to do nowadays,” he said. “When the quarterback has thoughts and opinions and ideas of what he feels good about, you certainly have to take all that in, and then try to figure out exactly what’s the right blend of things that fit that week against that team.” That required constantly adjusting the plan with Brady, frequently exchanging emails on the weekend. Maye is stepping into a quarterback ecosystem that thrives on communication, autonomy, and accountability.

And luckily for Maye, he’s already been doing his homework. Even before McDaniels returned, the rookie was diving into film of past Patriots offenses. Now that same footage becomes the foundation of his own growth. “I have a great chance to go back—all those years of film he has in the little database,” Maye said. “It’s all their play-calls, all Coach McDaniels’ stuff and what he did with Tom.”

Drake Maye sends a clear signal—He’s all in on Josh McDaniels

Drake Maye is publicly embracing the McDaniels hype rather than merely nodding along with it. The Patriots quarterback praised his new offensive coordinator during a recent press conference, making it apparent that he is all in. “He’s been an offensive coordinator, he’s been a head coach. He does it at a high level. His stuff works… He coached the best to ever do it, so it’s pretty cool getting to watch old things Tom [did],” Maye said. That’s not just respect—it’s alignment. It’s a rookie quarterback signaling that he’s ready to be coached the Brady Way.

That’s an important message. Maye appears to be fully committed to the McDaniels technique in a league where young quarterbacks frequently struggle without the proper guidance. He is aware of the standards. He is aware of the difficulty. And he is ready for the pressure.

Maye took over as the starting quarterback after missing the first five games of his rookie season. He finished with 2,276 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, in addition to 421 rushing yards and two scores. But now he is getting ready for a new challenge. The Patriots may have just discovered their next pillar if McDaniels can unleash even a little portion of the same magic he did with Brady.

Drake Maye isn’t rewriting the Patriots’ story alone. He’s building it alongside a coach who helped author the best chapters in franchise history. With McDaniels showing him the Tom Brady way, Maye’s message is clear: he’s ready to learn, lead, and leave his own mark on New England.