Joe Milton III was told he would play vs. Bills ‘after the kickoff’

Politics

Milton entered the game after the first series and led New England to an upset win.

By Hayden Bird

January 5, 2025 | 5:46 PM

3 minutes to read

Though it may not have been a win Patriots fans wanted — with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft hanging in the balance — rookie quarterback Joe Milton III provided a breath of fresh air on the final day of what has been a difficult season in New England.

Milton, 24, made his regular season NFL debut after replacing fellow Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye following the first series of the 23-16 victory over the Bills on a cold and sparsely attended January day at Gillette Stadium. Though he arrived with less hype (as a sixth-rounder to Maye’s first-round status), Milton showed he has the ability to play well.

He finished 22-of-29 with 241 yards passing and two total touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). Afterward, he admitted the full realization of what he’d accomplished was still sinking in.

“Still to this moment right now, none of this feels real just because I did scout team all year,” Milton told reporters. “I didn’t know when my moment was going to come. Everyone in the building just kept saying the same thing: ‘Just be ready for your moment.’ And I didn’t know it was going to come today. Like I said all week, if opportunity presented itself, I’d be ready.”

While it appeared the Patriots had pre-planned Maye’s removal after a single series, it was news to Milton.

“After the kickoff they were like, ‘Hey, you’re going in next series,’” Milton said when asked when he knew he’d play. “I was like, ‘Alright, let’s do it.’”

“I think I proved it to myself, like it’s always been, just showing that I’m able to be here, able to play this game,” he added in response to a question about what he “proved” with the win.

Even as he candidly acknowledged to making a fundamental mistake at one point with a throw across his body — “that’s just bad quarterback play” — Milton explained that his rapport with periodic scout-teamer Kayshon Boutte helped during their connection for a 48-yard touchdown.

“I feel like that actually showed up because K-Boutte actually [is] on scout team with me sometimes,” said Milton. “He gets his extra reps like that, and we’ve made plays like that before, so just seeing it come to reality was very fun.”

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Milton provided context about his experience that day, noting that it had largely been a normal game-day routine with one exception.

“I didn’t eat anything at all, so I’m ready to eat,” he joked. “But other than that, it was a regular day to me. Felt calm, felt cool. Everybody had my back today, just like every other quarterback that comes through here. The team has Drake’s back and today they had my back.”

As for Maye, Milton paid credit to his fellow rookie (who started the game but quickly exited, capping what has been a promising first season).

“Drake’s my guy,” said Milton. “I don’t know if there’s anybody else in this building that’s as cool as him. You don’t see Drake get mad. You don’t see him get riled up. He’s just cool, calm, and collected, and as a quarterback that’s how you have to be.”

Of course, Patriots fans with a wider angle of perspective were disappointed in a sense that the team won, as it cost New England a chance at having the No. 1 overall pick.

Milton said it was never his or his team’s concern amid the demands of a regular season NFL clash, regardless of circumstances.

“We have to handle our program as it is right now,” he said. “We can’t think too far in the future, can’t think too far in the past. We’re just being exactly where our feet are right now.

“We’re just being right here in the moment. Thinking about a pick right now is way out of our hands,” he continued. “Today the main focus was to win.”

Looking ahead, Milton is just trying to keep his focus on maximizing his NFL opportunities.

“I feel like today was a great step in the right direction for my development, my future itself, just because you never know. The full length of an average NFL career is three years, so just trying to take every rep that I get — whether it’s in practice or in a game — just trying to take it seriously as much as I can. Whatever it takes, whatever I’ve got to do, I’ll do it.”