All articles tagged with #quarterback development
Once written off as a Jets bust, Sam Darnold rebuilt his career with stops in San Francisco and Minnesota before Seattle gambled on him; through steady play, growth in a system that suits him, and a dominant defense, he avoided costly mistakes in the postseason and helped the Seahawks win a title, underscoring the power of sustained belief and resilience in quarterback development.
Breer highlights Sam Darnold’s breakout with Seattle (4,048 passing yards, 25 TDs, 99.1 passer rating) and identifies three takeaways: Seattle moved quickly to sign him at a favorable price, a quarterback’s development benefits from a stable environment, and teams should be wary of falling in love with the next great prospect. The column also covers other offseason moves (Vikings GM shift, Klint Kubiak to the Raiders, Bills’ Brady hire, Browns’ Monken, Falcons’ Cunningham, Epstein-file fallout, Senior Bowl logistics) and a series of quick-hits on coaching hires and league news.
The column argues Drake Maye has been shaky in his three playoff games against top-5 defenses, with turnovers and low efficiency, and the Patriots still rely on a strong defense. Now he must elevate his decision-making and ball security at altitude in Denver to beat the Broncos; a clean game with a few elite plays could push New England toward San Francisco, while another turnover-prone performance could doom the trek. The piece also notes the Broncos’ pass defense may be overrated and that blocking them could be key if Maye can manage the game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy as head coach after a formal interview process, citing his winning track record and success developing quarterbacks; the decision wasn’t framed as a Rodgers reunion, and McCarthy will assemble a staff and evaluate the quarterback room with the aim of developing a young passer and winning a championship.
Tom Brady praised quarterback Fernando Mendoza on Fox, calling him a bright future and emphasizing the development path for young QBs, while the Raiders’ No. 1 pick looms as either Mendoza’s selection or a trade asset, highlighting Brady’s dual role as analyst and team figure.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are nearing a deal to hire Mike McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native with an offensive-minded background and a Super Bowl title, as their next head coach. The move signals a shift toward veteran leadership and a focus on quarterback development as the team navigates its post-Roethlisberger quarterback plan.
A growing trend across Power 4 programs is to rely on experienced transfer quarterbacks to win now, sidelining long-term development. The article notes that many national contenders used transfer QBs this season, that 2026 could see dozens more, and that elite prospects transfer multiple times, creating pressure to perform immediately. This has diminished patience for in-house growth, pushed players toward mid-major paths for early reps and higher earnings, and turned quarterback development into a “one-year lease” rather than a multi-year process.
Emmanuel Acho’s blunt critique of Mike Tomlin’s Steelers tenure spotlights a paradox: the coach never posted a losing season and kept teams competitive, yet critics say he failed to identify or develop a true franchise quarterback beyond Ben Roethlisberger. Acho cites quarterbacks Tomlin drafted or acquired—Rudolph, Hodges, Dobbs, Fields—and contrasts Tomlin’s roster-driven success with high-profile QB misfires, even noting Russell Wilson’s Denver saga; the takeaway is that Tomlin’s legacy is complex but still marked by consistent effectiveness.
Dante Moore, 20, chose to return to Oregon for 2027 instead of entering the 2026 NFL draft, boosting Oregon’s title chances and thinning the 2026 QB class. The decision reflects the NIL era’s risk/reward calculus and suggests NFL teams may value experience and development over pure upside, potentially changing quarterback trajectories in college and pro football and shifting early draft focus to other positions in 2026.
Former Ravens coach John Harbaugh, released a week ago, has quickly become the NFL’s top coaching free agent, drawing interest from nine franchises and entering a high-stakes recruitment that centers on the New York Giants. Giants officials have engaged with Harbaugh and view him as a CEO-like leader who can blend program support with a quarterback they can grow around, while other candidates like the Titans and Falcons also loom. Harbaugh wants strong organizational alignment and influence over winning ways, plus a quarterback-progression plan, making the Giants the best fit among remaining options. A formal offer could come this week.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy showed improvement throughout his first season as a starter despite injuries, and head coach Kevin O’Connell expressed confidence in his continued development and future with the team, while also considering offseason upgrades.
Caleb Williams has shown significant improvement in his second NFL season under head coach Ben Johnson, with a standout game in Week 8 and a positive outlook for the rest of the season, despite a tougher schedule ahead.
The article discusses the uneven progress of NFL quarterback Caleb Williams with the Chicago Bears, highlighting the challenges and potential in his development, and comparing him to past quarterbacks who faced similar early-career hurdles. It emphasizes that it's too early to label him a bust and underscores the importance of coaching and situation in his growth.
J.J. McCarthy is recovering from a high ankle sprain and the Vikings have decided to hold him out for an extra week to ensure he's fully ready for a crucial game against the Lions, emphasizing the importance of developing young quarterbacks with confidence and proper rest.
Drake Maye, the Patriots' quarterback, has shown remarkable progress in just a year, with veteran Brian Hoyer praising his rapid development and decision-making improvements since his rookie season.