Quarterback Whisperers: The coaches behind the NFL’s top QBs
The talent of the NFL’s great quarterbacks cannot be denied, but the coaches who helped build them up should not go overlooked either.
When an NFL quarterback blossoms into a superstar, it’s easy to heap the praise on talent, grit, and a killer arm. But behind almost every great quarterback is a coach - a whisperer, if you will - who knows how to unlock potential, simplify chaos, and fine-tune mechanics.
These offensive masterminds are the mentors who play a defining role in shaping the NFL’s most valuable position. So who are these quarterback whisperers quietly steering the league’s most explosive offenses?
The NFL’s Quarterback Whisperers
Bill Belichick & Tom Brady (New England Patriots)
We cannot talk about this topic and not mention Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. They are the most successful quarterback–coach duo in NFL history. Across 20 seasons, six Super Bowl wins, and countless late-game heroics, Belichick and Brady built a dynasty rooted in discipline, detail, and adaptation.
Belichick wasn’t known as a quarterback “developer” in the traditional sense, but his system molded Brady from a sixth-round afterthought into the most decorated quarterback of all time. He emphasized situational awareness, defensive manipulation, and relentless preparation.
Their relationship wasn’t always smooth, but it was wildly productive. Belichick’s cerebral, cold-blooded approach meshed with Brady’s obsessiveness and competitiveness. Together, they reinvented themselves and the Patriots’ offense multiple times.
Andy Reid & Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)
No list can continue without Andy Reid, the architect behind Patrick Mahomes’ evolution from a raw gunslinger out of Texas Tech to a generational quarterback with multiple Super Bowl rings. Reid’s gift lies not just in play design but in empowering creativity. He doesn’t try to mold Mahomes into a classic pocket passer, but rather gives him structure, then encourages improvisation.
“That’s what’s special about Coach Reid’s offense... it adapts to whoever’s in there. He has different ways that he can utilize your strengths,” Mahomes said.
Reid’s ability to adapt schemes to fit his quarterback rather than the other way around is a hallmark of a true whisperer.
Kyle Shanahan & Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers)
Kyle Shanahan has long been known for quarterback-friendly systems, but what he’s done with Brock Purdy, “Mr. Irrelevant” turned NFC Championship-caliber starter, is perhaps his greatest feat.
Shanahan’s genius lies in precision: timing routes, play-action deception, and layered reads. With Purdy, he tailored the offense to maximize decision-making speed and minimize risk.
Shanahan builds confidence through simplicity, then slowly expands the playbook as trust grows.
Brock Purdy talks about the trust Kyle Shanahan has with him:
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) August 11, 2025
“It’s been nice. Sometimes you see coordinators keeping things really simple for quarterbacks, but with him it’s been 'Hey man let’s see if you can handle it', and I feel like I’ve shown that I can… He doesn’t… pic.twitter.com/AcEG5HeFhe
Nick Sirianni & Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)
Jalen Hurts’ development has been fast, and it’s no coincidence. Nick Sirianni built a staff that catered to Hurts’ unique skill set. The Eagles doubled down on RPOs, designed quarterback runs, and progression reads that emphasized Hurts’ dual-threat abilities while letting him grow as a passer.
“He just keeps getting better,” Sirianni said after the Eagles’ Super Bowl win in 2024. “I find it funny when it’s like, you know, ‘Well, Jalen Hurts is good because he’s got a good team around him.’ Like, that’s football - you cannot be great without the greatness of others... Jalen Hurts is special and the criticism just blows my mind because I think he’s so special and has won so many games and works his butt off and just continues to get better.”
Their trust in Hurts created space for him to evolve, not just as a playmaker, but as a leader.
This moment between Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts 🥹
— The Eagle Times (@TheEagleTimes_) May 19, 2025
2 guys who flipped the culture of Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/mRe96zhjrS
Mike McDaniel & Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins)
Considered a schematic wizard, Mike McDaniel helped revive Tua Tagovailoa’s career by reimagining the Dolphins offense in 2022. With quick timing throws, motion-heavy formations, and deep play-action designs, McDaniel tailored the offense to highlight Tua’s accuracy and anticipation. Perhaps even more important is his belief in Tua’s mental toughness.
“My belief has always been strong from Day 1 in Tua. It’s stronger than it was the first day I met him,” McDaniel said after the 2023 season. ”And that’s because of that relationship where I’m focused, which is continuing to provide the coaching so he can continue to evolve his game as he has since the second that I started talking to him.”
McDaniel’s mix of play design and emotional intelligence makes him one of the brightest young QB whisperers in the league.
Coaching still wins
In the National Football League, quarterback development is more art than science. It’s not just about calling plays - it’s about knowing your guy, building trust, and evolving with him. And in today’s NFL, that might be the loudest competitive advantage there is.
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