Patriots coach Jerod Mayo has made the decision to name Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback for New England’s season opener against Cincinnati. Brissett won the starting position over rookie first-round draft pick Drake Maye after competing with him during training camp and the preseason.
Mayo spoke individually with Brissett and Maye before informing both players of the decision during a team meeting on Thursday morning. Mayo cited multiple factors that led to choosing Brissett as the starting quarterback, emphasizing that the organization believes Brissett provides the best chance for the team to win, both in the short and long term.
Despite Brissett being named the starter, Mayo emphasized that the team does not intend to rotate quarterbacks throughout the season. He stated that the organization fully supports Brissett and that as long as he continues to perform well, he will remain the team’s quarterback for the season.
Brissett, who is entering his ninth NFL season, signed an $8 million one-year deal with the Patriots in March, reuniting with the team that originally drafted him in 2016. Over the years, Brissett has played for multiple teams, including the Colts, Dolphins, Browns, and Washington, accumulating valuable experience in 79 games with 48 starts.
Mayo and new executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf sought a veteran presence like Brissett on the roster to mentor Maye. While Mayo acknowledged Maye’s strong performance during the preseason, he ultimately selected Brissett due to his experience and leadership qualities, especially crucial as the team deals with consistency issues with the offensive line early in the season.
The Patriots will rely on Brissett to lead the team in the season opener as they face the Bengals.
