Tom Brady Shares Why Patriots Have Had Surprising Success With Drake Maye in 2025

Drake Maye and the New England Patriots' rise to having the best record in the NFL ahead of Week 15 has been one of the league's biggest surprises this season. However, Tom Brady doesn't seem too shocked by what's happening in Foxborough. 

Brady pointed to Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as a key reason for Maye's growth into becoming an MVP candidate this season, along with the quarterback's desire to learn. 

"Josh McDaniels is still one of my great friends. I’ve known him for 25 years," Brady said in an appearance on Thursday's "The Herd." "He talks about his work ethic, willingness to get better and improve week in and week out, he’s a sponge for information and that’s more important to me than what I see on the film. When I hear that, I know he’s doing the things it takes during the week that are going to show up consistently on the field. Other people and coaches with other teams will say about their quarterback, ‘He’s the first one out of the building. He doesn’t study. He never opens his iPad.’ I hear that from time to time, and I could see why on the film why that guy’s not being successful. 

"Josh McDaniels has done an incredible job this year for the Patriots," Brady added. "Drake is running the same system that I was in. I know how good that system is for quarterbacks, how Josh teaches these young quarterbacks and all the different reasons why he’s doing what he’s doing. … He’s in a great system to be successful."

Brady worked directly with McDaniels in New England for 13 seasons, with McDaniels serving as his offensive coordinator in 11 of those years. Brady had already established himself as a top quarterback in the NFL by the time McDaniels became his offensive coordinator in 2006, but he