Former Assumption football star Ashton Grant spent the last two seasons as the Cleveland Browns’ quarterbacks coach, and although the team did not have a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the staff still did its homework on the top QBs, including Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye.
The New England Patriots, of course, selected Maye at No. 3 overall, and as a rookie, he showed great promise in the 12 games he started.
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In January, the Patriots hired the 29-year-old Grant as their quarterbacks coach, and the opportunity to work with Maye is one that Grant is enjoying.
“We thought very highly of Drake at the time (in Cleveland),” Grant said, “and we knew he was going to be the type of player who could lead a franchise for many years to come. It’s just super exciting to be part of that journey with him.”
Grant grew up in Manchester, Connecticut — as a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, his step-dad’s favorite team — and, as a standout wide receiver, finished his Assumption career as the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He was the 2016 Northeast-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Year and in 2017 helped the Greyhounds to the best season in their history.
Grant and his wife, whom he met in high school, are happy to be back in the area.
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“Everything has been great,” Grant said. “We’re super close to our family, and everything with the Patriots has been awesome.”
First-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel spent the 2024 season as a consultant with the Browns, and he and Grant worked together closely.
“One of his responsibilities was taking a role in developing the younger coaches on the staff, helping us develop in our teaching styles,” Grant said. “I would sit in a room with him and teach him some of our concepts, and he would give me feedback like, ‘Think about this when you’re teaching or think about that.’ It was great getting to know him, and I’m excited to continue to develop that relationship with him.”
Former Assumption star Ashton Grant finds time to throw a ball around before a game in Indianapolis, as a member of the Browns coaching staff.
The Patriots hired Vrabel on Jan. 12. About two weeks after that, Vrabel contacted the Browns about interviewing Grant for the New England quarterbacks position.
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“It was a random Wednesday,” Grant said. “I interviewed Thursday morning, and he called me back Thursday night to say the job was mine if I wanted it. I guess the interview went pretty well.”
Grant said he is excited to be part of the Patriots offensive staff and working with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
At Assumption, Grant played for coach Bob Chesney, who gave Grant his first coaching opportunity, handling special teams quality control at Holy Cross for two seasons, and inspired Grant’s career path.
“We used to think Coach Chesney was a superhero when we played,” Grant said. “I remember being like, ‘I would want to be that influential to somebody.’ He impacted my decision to get into coaching, and now that I am, our relationship has grown even tighter because we’re in the same field.”
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Grant said he talks to Chesney, who is entering his second season at James Madison, once a week, and they bounce ideas off each other.
Grant has also remained very close to Deonte Harty, his former Assumption teammate who played the 2024 season with the Baltimore Ravens.
Grant said he hopes to make it to Assumption’s spring game April 27.
In 2020, Grant was the Browns’ first recipient of the Bill Willis Coaching Fellowship, which started Grant’s five-year stay with the franchise.
He spent time in the defensive line room, followed by the running backs room, the wide receivers room, the tight ends room and the last two in the quarterbacks room.
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“It would be easier to tell you what I didn’t learn (in Cleveland),” Grant said. “Those five years were truly transformative in my coaching career because (Browns coach) Kevin Stefanski did a great job with my development and being intentional about it. I learned all the different aspects of offensive football.”
With some of their nine picks in this year’s NFL Draft, which is April 24-26, the Patriots will be looking to get Maye targets and protection.
Grant said when he first got the Patriots job that he and Maye got to know each other through phone calls, and they’ve been building their relationship since Maye got back to Gillette Stadium two weeks ago.
“We’ve been full steam ahead,” Grant said, “trying to plow away at this playbook and, again, keep building our relationship. It’s been awesome getting to know him. He’s a smart young man and super well-rounded.”
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—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Former Assumption star Ashton Grant excited to be back in NE as Pats’ QB coach
