Jacoby Brissett embracing mentor role in second stint with Patriots: 'I'm a teammate first'

Jacoby Brissett‘s first stint in New England came eight seasons ago as a third-round rookie playing third-string behind Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo.

After runs in Indianapolis, Miami, Cleveland and Washington, Brissett, a grizzled 31 years old, is back in Foxborough to help mentor 2024 first-round pick Drake Maye and the rest of a young Patriots offense.

“When I was here the first time, you realize everybody’s your mentor that’s older than you in this league or has more experience, and I hope I’m that for more than just Drake,” Brissett said via the team’s official website. “I’m a teammate first. I can be a good teammate to not only [Maye] but to everybody on this team.”

Brissett signed in New England as a veteran to help guide whichever young quarterback the Pats selected at No. 3 overall, but also provide a starting option if said rookie wasn’t ready Week 1. After the selection of Maye, who started just 26 games at UNC, Brissett has a chance to open the season as the starter.

“I think the good thing about our room is honestly everybody wants to be the guy. Everybody’s competing to be the guy. That’s what you want,” Brissett said. “If none of us wanted to play, then our room would be messed up. Like we would be in bad hands in this organization. I think everybody understands that, and everybody wants to play.”

Brissett has shown in the last few seasons that he’s capable of running an offense fluidly. In Washington last season, the offense took off anytime he entered a contest.

The veteran knows that even if he starts the season under center, in the long-term, this is Maye’s team. Brissett will do whatever he can to help foster that future success.

“I’m excited to work with him. I remember when I was following Tom [Brady] around,” Brissett said. “(Maye’s) already texting me about plays and how I think about things and cadence — all the little nuances of being in this position at this level.”

The question in New England is whether Maye starts Week 1 or first-year head coach Jerod Mayo gives the keys to Brissett to open the season. This would allow the rookie to get his feet wet on the sideline for a month or so before taking the reins from Brissett.