Analyzing Seven new coach/QB tandems
Will Rodgers rule? Can Williams, Young, Wilson, Richardson, McCarthy and Maye play at high level?
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As training camps open with more than 2,800 players reporting across 32 NFL teams, we naturally turn our focus to the one position that gets more attention than all others combined: the quarterback.
So we might as well get it over with — for now, anyway. Let’s size up the seven new quarterback–coach pairings that headline 2025’s camp storylines. These new partnerships are fascinating experiments in identity, chemistry and control.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers
New England Patriots: Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye
Indianapolis Colts: Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson or Danny “Dimes” Jones.
New York Giants: Brian Daboll and Russell Wilson, et al.
Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales and Bryce Young
Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams
Las Vegas Raiders: Pete Carroll and Geno Smith (reunited)
And that doesn’t count the chaos in Cleveland and other curiosities we will discuss at another time.
I don’t hand out quarterback praise like candy on Halloween. These guys aren’t just arms, they’re the face and soul of the franchise, and the compass of the locker room. To earn serious consideration, they must be a cut above. With that lens in mind, here is how I see things:
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers
Strengths
I have been partial and empathetic with AR’s chip-on-the-shoulder attitude ever since that excruciating wait in the green room during the 2005 draft, when Utah’s Alex Smith was No. 1 and Rodgers No. 24. We had Rodgers rated No. 1 overall. Smith was a nice point guard of a QB in Urban Meyer’s spread attack, but Rodgers had an impressive GPS on passes all over the field in Jeff Tedford’s pro-style offense. And he was from Cal, just across the bay from the 49ers, who nevertheless opted for Smith at the top. AR may have benefited from a late start while Favre hung around Green Bay, but I would like to see him get an emphatic extra season to seal a quick Hall of Fame induction.
Veteran leadership on both sides: Rodgers’ playoff pedigree meshes with Tomlin’s steady, no-drama culture. We are talking about on-field demeanor here for Rodgers. So what if he is a bit quirky off the field? He is from California after all, and before griping about that remark. know that I lived my whole life in the Golden State.
Complementary styles: Tomlin’s physical, clock-controlling offense can mask any mid-game rust while still unleashing Rodgers’s precision passing.
Supporting cast balance: A top-10 run game and play-action heavy scheme should give Rodgers clean pockets and easy reads.
Concerns
Scheme adjustment: Rodgers must temper his aggressive downfield instincts to fit Tomlin’s more disciplined philosophy.
Health and mileage: At 41, Rodgers carries significant wear. Tomlin’s challenge is keeping him fresh through a rugged 17-game slate.
Pressure to win now: Pittsburgh hasn’t replaced Ben Roethlisberger with a franchise QB in Tomlin’s tenure. Rodgers must deliver immediate results.
2025 projection
— Passing yards: ~3,900
— Touchdowns: 28–30
— Interceptions: ≤10
— Team Outlook: 10-11 wins, AFC North contender, with potential home-field playoff advantage if Rodgers limits turnovers.
New England Patriots: Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye
With Josh McDaniels as OC.
Strengths
McDaniels slinks back to New England after a failed cosplay experiment in Las Vegas, where his “McPatriots” fizzled faster than a Belichick press conference. He inherits Drake Maye, whose play-action mobility might just revive the playbook — assuming it isn’t the same hermetically-sealed Brady script from 2016. Maye can do much more. Yeah, really.
Championship assets: Vrabel’s disciplined culture and championship pedigree (as a Patriot linebacker) give Maye a rock-solid foundation.
Dual-threat skills: Maye has that athlete gene that is evident throughout his family, although mostly in basketball. His skills as a thrower and runner (2,276 passing yards, 15 TDs; 421 rush yards, four TDs as a rookie) gives Vrabel the dual-threat option threat he never really had in Tennessee (sorry, Will Levis).
Concerns
Who are these guys?: Both head coach and OC are new to Maye — early chemistry and play-calling trust will be under a microscope.
Missing big-play threats: Outside of Stefon Diggs, the receiving corps lacks proven playmakers, placing more pressure on Maye’s accuracy and decision-making.
OL could be shaky: The continuity of the offensive line is a question mark after the unit allowed 54 sacks in 2024. Keeping Maye upright will be critical.
2025 projection
— Passing Yards: ~3,400
— Passing Touchdowns: 24
— Interceptions: 8
— Rushing Yards: 450
— Rushing Touchdowns: 5
— Team Outlook: 8–9 wins, Wild Card contender if Maye shows improved decision-making. A quarterback and a team to watch.
Indianapolis Colts: Steichen’s QB competition
Daniel Jones
Experience and accuracy: Selected No. 6 overall by the Giants in 2019, Jones owns a 64.1 percent career completion rate with 14,582 yards, 70 TDs and 47 INTs over six seasons.
Ready-made starter: The ex-Giant signed a one-year, $14 million deal (with $13.15 million guaranteed), signaling Indy’s commitment and giving Jones an early edge in reps.
System fit: He’s familiar with pro-style play-action concepts from Brian Daboll’s offense in New York and should adapt quickly to Steichen’s scheme.
Anthony Richardson
Downfield upside: The No. 4 pick in 2023 — a huge mistake — Richardson brings elite arm strength and explosiveness as a runner. He rushed for 490 yards and five TDs.
Durability concerns: He appeared in only 15 games over two seasons due to injuries, and a right-shoulder issue cost him most of OTAs and minicamp. (July 17 updates report Richardson will be ready to go when Indy opens camp next week.)
Consistency questions: Richardson must improve his mental processing and accuracy under pressure before he can be trusted as a full-time starter.
Early Edge
With question marks around Richardson’s health and ability to master Steichen’s complex reads, or to play like a quarterback at all, Daniel Jones enters camp as the safer Week 1 option. Richardson’s athletic upside keeps the battle alive, but until he shows consistent accuracy and availability, Jones is the frontrunner.
2025 projection
With owner Jim Irsay’s passing in May (RIP), Richardson loses extra protection. If sanity reigns, we expect Danny Dimes to be the QB. That’s enough of a projection there. We didn’t think he was that great early in his career, but others loved him. At Indy all things are relative so he looks like the best quarterback in the neighborhood.
New York Giants: Brian Daboll and Russell Wilson
Strengths
Turnover-averse veteran: Wilson’s career interception rate sits under 2.7 percent, and his playoff pedigree brings instant credibility to New York’s offense.
Scheme synergy: Daboll’s outside-zone run base and play-action emphasis dovetail with Wilson’s quick processing and ability to throw deep.
Culture fit: Both coach and quarterback preach “no drama” professionalism, setting clear expectations in the locker room from Day 1.
Concerns
Interesting maturation. Coming out of college and a great upbringing by his father, Wilson’s priorities and focus earned him a starting job as a rookie (congrats Pete Carroll). But $uccess seemed to turn his head with that executive suite in Denver and a high-profile social life. Just sayin.
Wear and tear: At 37, Wilson must be carefully managed to keep him from wearing down over a 17-game season.
Pass protection: The Giants allowed 54 sacks in 2024. Without significant O-line upgrades, Wilson’s timing-based rhythm could be disrupted.
Offensive identity: Daboll’s conservative tendencies may limit Wilson’s deep-ball prowess.
Backup QBs
— Jameis Winston: One-year veteran deal — big arm and experience, but turnover risk still lingers. Truth be told, I never totally bought into him as a team-leading QB after the crab leg heist. Petty, right?
— Jaxson Dart: Rookie developmental project — high upside but needs to refine his reads and pocket presence
2025 projection
— Passing Yards: ~3,600
— Passing Touchdowns: 25–27
— Interceptions: ≤10
— Team Outlook: Eight or nine wins, a potential NFC East contender if Wilson stays healthy and the offensive line holds up.
Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales and Bryce Young
Strengths
New coach likes where his QB is at: Canales’s growing belief in Young’s development was on full display at OTAs: “I feel really confident about what I saw today,” he said of the quarterback’s progress.
Young’s grasp of the playbook: The coach praised Young’s “great mastery” of the offense, which should allow Canale to introduce more advanced concepts.
Momentum from 2024’s finish may be real: Over his final 10 starts, Young showed growth and put up solid dual-threat numbers: 15 touchdown passes against six interceptions and 223 rushing yards with five scores.
Concerns
I always thought the little guy’s (5-10 1/8) step up to the NFL would be a tough one. His well-meaning helicopter parents are of little value, and the physicality of the game is tougher than an S2 cognition video test. Still hard to believe Frank Reich made this draft pick to play in an outdoor east stadium, considering his history with Philip Rivers, Andrew Luck, Nick Foles, Jacoby Brisset, and Matt Ryan, who AVERAGED 6-5 tall. Now he is biding time as Stanford’s interim head coach and settling for QB Elija Brown, a redshirt freshman at only 6-2, but still four inches taller than Young. Bet he sleeps better at night now.
Pass protection remains a glaring issue: Young was sacked 62 times and lost six fumbles last season, underscoring the need for a stronger offensive line.
Depth of receiving corps is unproven: Carolina was the only team without a player catching at least 50 passes in 2024.
A make-or-break campaign: Insiders warn that a failure by Young to build on his strong 2024 finish could prompt the Panthers to explore new quarterback options.
2025 projection
— Passing Yards: ~3,800 (based purely on sustaining late-season pace)
— Passing Touchdowns: ~27 (projected from second-half surge)
— Interceptions: ~10
— Rushing Yards: ~350
— Team Outlook: 6–7 wins, with progress tied directly to line play and receiver emergence.
Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams
Strengths
Heavy play-action scheme: Johnson’s approach creates windows and relieves offensive‐line pressure. Under Johnson last year, Detroit ranked top five in using play-action.
Roster built around Caleb Williams: Offseason moves added guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, center Drew Dalman. Rookies rookies Colston Loveland (tight end) and Luther Burden III (WR) join mainstay D.J. Moore and dynamic second-year receiver Rome Odunze.
Talent and toughness on display: Williams flashed in his first year, setting franchise rookie marks of 3,541 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, despite enduring an NFL-high 68 sacks.
Concerns
While the team still tries to justify this No. 1 pick by rearranging furniture, I stick to pre-draft concerns that, despite displays of magicianry, Williams has flaws hard-wired into his game (can you say Hero ball?) that will take time to fix. As a quintessential Gen-Z product, he is accustomed to customizing things to fit him rather than adapting himself.
Limited under-center experience (only eight snaps in college) may hamper Williams’ ability to quickly learn Johnson’s offense.
Vulnerable to getting sack: That league-leading 68-sack total in 2024 stemmed from inconsistent protection, but Williams’ tendency to hold the ball too long was also a factor.
First-time head coach: Johnson’s move from coordinator to HC raises questions about his in-game management and broader leadership abilities.
Backup QBs
— Case Keenum: one-year veteran signing offers emergency experience but is prone to turning the ball over
— Tyson Bagent: third-year undrafted free agent who appeared in mop-up duty as a rookie
2025 projection
— Completion percentage: ~63.5 percent
— Passing Yards: ~3,915
— Passing TDs: ~25, Interceptions: ~11, Rushing Yards: ~445, Rushing TDs: ~1
— Team outlook: A more efficient offense should push toward seven maybe eight wins. A true breakout hinges on Williams’s development under Johnson and better offensive line play.
Las Vegas Raiders: Pete Carroll and Geno Smith
Strengths
Proven rapport: Carroll and Smith spent four seasons together in Seattle, giving Smith an immediate understanding of the new coach’s playbook and mindset.
Career-best production: Smith threw for a career-high 4,320 yards last season, proving he can shoulder a full NFL workload.
The Jeanty factor: No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty arrives as Carroll’s new “Beast Mode.” The rookie RB is expected to anchor the ground game with the power and burst reminiscent of Marshawn Lynch.
Competitive culture: Carroll’s daily emphasis on competition dovetails with Smith’s “every play could be my last” attitude.
Concerns
Age and durability: Smith turns 35 in October and has battled minor injuries.
Turnovers can be an issue: Smith threw 15 INTs in 2024 and can put the ball for grabs when under pressure.
Cohesiveness of supporting cast: Vegas still needs to solidify its pass-catching group. It also needs Jeanty and the running game to thrive if Smith is to get the most out of the offense.
2025 projection
— Passing Yards: ~4,200
— Passing Touchdowns: ~24
— Interceptions: ~12
— Team Outlook: Around .500 with playoff hopes hinging on offensive continuity and a favorable turnover margin.
Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell and J.J. McCarthy
My other big curiosity at quarterback is about the rampant optimism in Minnesota, where coach O’Connell expects McCarthy, who was injured early and missed the entirety of last season, to step in and be as successful as he was during a national champion run at Michigan. O’Connell would be thankful if McCarthy is as productive as Sam Darnold, now in Seattle, was for Minnesota in 2024.
Strengths
McCarthy’s elite college metrics: Last year’s No. 10 overall pick earned a 90.6 PFF grade at Michigan, where he demonstrated advanced anticipation and accuracy.
Stable of elite receivers: Minnesota’s pass-catchers are as good as any in the league right now. No. 1 receiver and perennial All-Pro Justin Jefferson is the first player ever to rack up 7,000 receiving yards in his first five seasons; third-year wideout Jordan Addison is an ascending star, with 133 catches for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns through two years; Jalen Nailor is a breakout complement who posted 28 catches, 414 yards, and six TDs in 2024.
Highly praised install: Coaches noted that McCarthy “maximized” his learning during rehab. They believe the young QB is set to take the reins of O’Connell’s offense.
Cost-controlled asset: As a second-year player on a rookie deal, McCarthy’s cap hit frees up resources to bolster other roster areas.
Concerns
The Invisible Man: McCarthy has never taken a regular-season snap. Live game-speed decision-making remains untested. Feels like an ill-advised roll of the dice with few options if they hit snake eyes.
No veteran fallback: Vikings passed on Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones, and declined to re-sign Sam Darnold. McCarthy has zero competition for Week 1.
Immense pressure: Tasked with replacing a 14–3 playoff team led last year by Darnold (now with Seattle) puts a lot on McCarthy’s shoulders.
And there is this: When J. J. was with Michigan, his teammates were superior to opposing teams, with 18 of them due to be drafted or signed as undrafted free agents.
We wondered at during his championship season at Michigan how good McCarthy really was himself, playing on a roster with all that talent. He certainly appeared to be a savvy game manager at the collegiate level. Will that transfer to the NFL?
As usual, presumptions are no sure thing. And the fun of it is watching to see what actually happens.
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NFL Training Camp Reporting Dates (2025)
Team: Rookies reporting date, veterans reporting date:
Chargers: July 12, July 16
Ravens: July 15, July 22
Bills: July 15, July 22
Dolphins: July 15, July 22
Giants: July 15, July 22
49ers: July 15, July 22
Seahawks: July 15, July 22
Broncos: July 16, July 22
Lions: July 16, July 19
Raiders: July 17, July 22
Browns: July 18, July 22
Packers: July 18, July 22
Commanders: July 18, July 22
Bears: July 19, July 22
Bengals: July 19, July 22
Jaguars: July 19, July 22
Patriots: July 19, July 22
Jets: July 19, July 22
Vikings: July 20, July 22
Panthers: July 21, July 22
Cowboys: July 21, July 21
Colts: July 21, July 22
Chiefs: July 21, July 21
Cardinals: July 22, July 22
Texans: July 22, July 22
Rams: July 22, July 22
Saints: July 22, July 22
Eagles: July 22, July 22
Buccaneers: July 21, July 22
Titans: July 22, July 22
Steelers: July 23, July 23
Falcons: July 23, July 23