Overview
- Jones told the Bussin' With The Boys podcast on Wednesday that McDaniels leaving the Patriots 'really affected' his growth and that an interrupted second year cost him a chance to build on his rookie season.
- After McDaniels departed before the 2022 season, Bill Belichick did not name a conventional offensive coordinator and assigned play-related duties to Joe Judge and Matt Patricia, a move critics later called a poor fit.
- The Patriots went 8-9 in 2022 while Jones’ production and confidence declined, a slump that led to a benching for Bailey Zappe and Jones’ eventual trade out of New England.
- Jones later served as a starter for the San Francisco 49ers when Brock Purdy was injured, passing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 11 games as he sought to rebuild his career.
- Josh McDaniels’ return to New England and a credited offensive turnaround have strengthened arguments that coaching stability matters for young quarterbacks and pose a cautionary example for the Patriots as they develop Drake Maye.