Tom House, the throwing coach who has mentored Tom Brady, Drew Brees and now Mac Jones, showered the New England Patriots quarterback with glowing praise.
It’s one thing for Patriots fans to be hyped about what’s in store for Mac Jones, but it’s entirely another if the young quarterback is already winning praise from Tom House.
House, a former relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners, is now a celebrated throwing coach to the biggest names in sports. House has coached the form of NFL greats such as Tom Brady and Drew Brees, and he’s taken on a new apprentice in the 2020s with Mac Jones.
House reinforces what Pats fans have seen for the past year: there’s a lot to be excited about with Jones, who was selected No. 15 in the 2021 NFL Draft behind four other quarterbacks. Jones’ rookie season, which culminated in a playoff berth and a Pro Bowl nod — the singular 2021 rookie passer to see that level of success — only seems to be the beginning. Jones spent his second consecutive offseason training, working with House and now putting on muscle to improve his overall form, and House testifies that his hard work is already paying dividends.
“The sky is the limit with this young man,” House told NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry.
Tom House puts Mac Jones in the company of Tom Brady, Drew Brees
House’s appearance on Perry’s “Next Pats Podcast” culminated in an honest conversation of Jones’ throwing mechanics and where he’s headed next. NFL fans have mocked Jones for his appearance and perceived lack of mobility, but House has come away with a promising assessment: Jones has the potential to be the league’s next elite quarterback.
According to House, Jones demonstrated that he was advanced mentally during his rookie season, yet his mechanics and fundamentals were good but “not special.”
In the past, House has said that Mac’s arm strength is something that can improve upon, and this offseason, that’s something the two worked on together. Even though NFL quarterbacks don’t throw 60+ yards often, House believes if he worked with Mac more extensively, he would feel comfortable telling Patriots coach Bill Belichick that Jones could throw 60 yards five times a game if Belichick so desired.
Still, Jones’ work with House this summer has already influenced his game. Belichick noted that he has seen a “dramatic improvement” in Jones’ sophomore preseason.
House continued to fuel the hype for anyone rooting for the Pats this season, hinting that Jones’ throwing mechanics and footwork improvement could be “special this season.”
House also said that Jones is one of the smartest players he’s ever worked with, a massive compliment putting Jones in the company of Brady and Brees. Jones is “one of those guys” that can learn something after being instructed once or twice, House said.
Even though Jones is portrayed as the successor to Tom Brady in New England, the 24-year-old passer actually has more in common with Brees, according to House. Their shared background in tennis means that Jones and Brees have come to football with very similar footwork and broad stances. In fact, House has had to work with Brady on his “narrow” stance and his “long stride”, tendencies that have interfered with his throwing motion — something that Jones and Brees perfected on the tennis court.
Although it wasn’t much in way of a performance prediction, House did say that he believes Jones will be better in 2022 and Pats fans will have fun watching him soar.
“With his hard work, he’s matching up his physical with his mental/emotional,” the lauded throwing coach beamed.
