Ex-Patriots RB Damien Harris Calls Out Bill Belichick for Handling of Mac Jones

zach bacharContributor IJune 6, 2024

Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Former New England Patriots running back Damien Harris called out Bill Belichick regarding the way he handled his coaching staff surrounding quarterback Mac Jones during his time with the team.

“What happened to Mac Jones in New England, was not because of Mac Jones,” Harris said during a Thursday appearance on The Athletic Football Show (41:35 mark).

“What happened in New England to Mac Jones was because of the fact you took away an offensive coordinator who coached him to be a Pro Bowler and almost coached us to winning our division with a rookie quarterback in his first year,” he added.

Harris took issue with the Patriots’ decision to replace 2021 offensive coordinator and play-caller Josh McDaniels with Matt Patricia, who “coached defense his entire life,” and former special teams coach Joe Judge.

“You just throw them in there and say, ‘Hey, coach this kid up. He’s a first round pick, but as long as you teach him what I say, everything gonna be fine.’ S–t wasn’t fine. Now Mac Jones is in Jacksonville,” Harris said, claiming that Belichick was the “only reason” Jones didn’t work out.

The 27-year-old was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft, starting 34 games for the team over four years. Harris explained that his issues with Belichick stemmed from his decision to sign Cam Newton in 2020.

“I think that started kinda was this Cam Newton situation… everybody was like, ‘What the f–k is this? Why Cam Newton?’ Bill thought that he could make it work,” Harris said. “It didn’t really work.”

Harris also detailed the lack of communication that New England’s players had with Belichick during his time with the organization.

“If anybody had anything to say about it, it was [met with] a very, very quick, swift, ‘Shut the f–k up. I know what I’m doing.’ And that’s it,” he said (h/t Chad Graff of The Athletic).

After the Patriots selected Jones with a first-round pick in 2021, he went on to earn a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie and lead New England to a playoff appearance. However, his production steadily declined in the two ensuing years before he was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick on March 10.

Belichick’s time with the organization had already concluded at that time, as the Patriots parted ways with him on Jan. 11.