Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady never shies away from putting his mind on the table. In the conversation of quarterback development, he let his frustration out on the modern way of college football. How are they shaping the young QBs, or rather, failing to do so? Today’s college QBs aren’t ready for the NFL. Turns out Brady ain’t alone in this; another veteran, Matthew Stafford, who’s been around the league for over a decade, completely backs him.
In a conversation with Travis and Jason Kelce on their New Heights podcast, Stafford talked about the decline in fundamentals in college football. Pointing out that young QBs enter the league with raw talent but lack the skills. Stafford even said these constant shifts in modern college football can ruin a QB’s growth, saying, “Think about if you just changed offensive coordinators every single year—you’d be like, man, I know a lot, but I don’t know if I’ve mastered anything.” However, he also praised rookies like C.J. Stroud and Jayden Daniels: “The rookies actually impressed me… just the way that they can go out there and operate and play at a high level at a young age,” noting their ability to perform at a high level early on.
FULL EPISODE: https://t.co/JhSjF5DA6L
— New Heights (@newheightshow) March 12, 2025
Well, the NFL might be adapting, so athletic advantages aren’t enough. “Eventually, you have to beat teams with your mind, not just your legs,” Stafford said. Well, he is not attacking rookies, but it’s just the reality. The system prioritizes speed, quick throws, and athleticism over deep knowledge of the game. It’s no question that many young QBs come with talent. As Stafford put it, “These guys are playing on pure ability, not always football IQ”. So much so, even Stafford might just be a little jealous watching them move around so effortlessly. “I’ve never been able to do that,” he joked.
Stafford’s point was the shift in NFL playstyle, as today’s game is much younger. “It doesn’t like, I don’t see the Ray Lewises at linebacker where it’s like intimidation,” he said. Explaining that the league now prioritizes versatility over sheer physical ability. He also said, “There’s not a million dudes doing what I do, like sitting in the pocket and throwing anymore… I’m watching tape and they’re like, I see man coverage, I’m just going to run. And I’m like, that’s an awful idea if I try to do that,” admitting that he envies mobile QBs.
Credits: Imagn
Another big issue Stafford and Tom Brady noted is the transfer portal and NIL deals. Stafford has seen firsthand how the QB position has evolved. He’s one of the most respected passers of the past 15 years. He entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2009. In the past, young QBs would stick with a program, learn under veteran QBs, and spend a few years mastering a system before getting their shot. “These guys are constantly changing systems, coaches, and schools,” Stafford explained. “Imagine if an NFL QB had a different offensive coordinator every single year—it’d be tough to really master the game. That’s what’s happening in college football.” Well, he isn’t wrong there.
Now, if a player isn’t starting right away, he’s transferring. And while that’s great for giving players more opportunities, it’s also leading to even less continuity in their development. “If you’re bouncing around schools every year, how are you really learning the game?” Stafford asked. “You’re constantly starting over, learning new terminology, new schemes—it’s tough to build that deep understanding of the position.” Undoubtedly, having steady partners is vital on the gridiron.
Many college QBs are only spending a season or two in one system before moving on. That lack of continuity makes it tough for them to develop decision-making and pocket awareness. Those make good quarterbacks great at the next level. Some guys, like C.J. Stroud, manage to make the transition look easy. But in reality, many young quarterbacks struggle because coaches haven’t taught them how to read complex defenses, work through full-field progressions, or command a pro-style offense. And if college QBs aren’t learning how to do that before they get to the NFL, they’re going to have a much tougher time adjusting. This brings us to another legendary football mind who has been vocal about this issue: Bill Belichick.
Bill Belichick on how College Football is failing young QBs
Under legendary coach Bill Belichick, New England’s system had a thumb rule to prioritize preparation for the raw talent. He trained guys like Tom Brady and Mac Jones to master complex reads and execute with precision. Now, Belichick feels that college football ain’t keeping up with the preparation like they used to. “Most of these offenses don’t ask quarterbacks to do much,” Belichick said. “They’re running up-tempo, no-huddle, one-read systems where everything is designed to get the ball out quick. That’s great for winning college games, but it’s not teaching them how to play quarterback at the next level.” That’s definitely not the right way to guide quarterbacks for high-level football.
In a recent interview, Belichick told us the importance of player development at both the college and NFL levels. He put examples from his time with the Patriots. “If you look at the players we had in the NFL, Tom Brady was a fourth-string quarterback as a rookie and didn’t exactly come in with any playtime at all,” Belichick explained. This shows how even the greatest players needed time to grow.
In his note to Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, He talks of their early years, which had no instant success but steady growth through coaching and experience. “Developing players is something that Michael and I believe strongly in, and we’ll support that with the staff and the program,” he added, stressing the importance of patience in player growth.
NFL, American Football Herren, USA New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers Dec 7, 2023 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh Acrisure Stadium Pennsylvania USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xPhilipxG.xPavelyx 20231207_cec_pa4_162
Belichick put it simply: NFL players eventually level off, but college gives them more time to grow and refine their game. “There’s so much growth in players… and I just think there’s a little more time to do it here at the college level, and I’m excited about that opportunity,” he said. He also doubled down, saying college is the perfect place to nurture talent over time. And he’s not wrong.
Many top college quarterbacks get by, making one or two reads before taking off. They rarely have to work through full progressions, diagnose tricky coverages, or call audibles at the line. In the NFL, those skills are a must, but too many young QBs are being thrown into the deep end without mastering them first.
So, what is the fix? Stafford, Brady, and Belichick all seem to agree that the secret ingredient is to give young QBs more time to develop. Some NFL teams have started investing more in mentorship programs, bringing in veteran QBs to help rookies learn the game. Others are reconsidering their approach to drafting quarterbacks, opting to develop guys over multiple years rather than expecting instant success. There’s also been talk of encouraging more college programs to implement pro-style elements into their offenses. While it’s unlikely that the spread and RPO-heavy systems will disappear, incorporating more complex reads and traditional pocket-passing concepts could go a long way in preparing QBs for the NFL.
At the end of the day, Stafford and Brady’s concerns ain’t about talent, there’s plenty of that. It’s about making sure that young quarterbacks become true students of the game. And if things don’t change, we might start seeing even more talented QBs struggle once they hit the NFL.
The post Matthew Stafford Backs Tom Brady on College Football’s Biggest Problem After Bill Belichick’s Clear Message on Player Development appeared first on EssentiallySports.
