Mac Jones, Hunter Henry excited for fresh start under Bill O’Brien in New England

The New England Patriots quarterback/tight end duo of Mac Jones and Hunter Henry are looking forward to a fresh start in 2023 under new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.

“Me and Mac are close. We spend a good amount of time together, we’ve been throwing, getting after it, just trying to get ready to go,” Henry recently told Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. “I think everyone’s excited for a fresh start and a fresh season. Everybody will be fired up and be ready to go.”

Like most of the Patriots’ offense, the two struggled under the Matt Patricia/Joe Judge run offense last season. Jones in particular, took a step back in 2022 after earning a Pro Bowl nod the year prior and leading New England to the playoffs. The 24-year-old threw for 2,997 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on 65.2% passing.

Henry, meanwhile, hauled in just 41 receptions for 509 yards and two scores — his lowest receiving output since his rookie season in 2016. Entering the final year of a three-year contract he inked with the team in 2021, Henry is motivated to return to his prior form under O’Brien.

“I’m pumped, man,” Henry said. “You get here and it feels like the offseason flew by, but you’re excited because football is finally back. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, but excited for it.”

Mac Jones on Bill O’Brien hiring: It’s been normal

Speaking with the media in May, Jones used the word “normal” to describe how things have gone with O’Brien this offseason and through OTAs.

“It’s been really good. It’s been normal,” Jones said. “I think everything he’s done so far has been really good. I think the communication is the most important part, and trust… It starts with that when you’re with a new coach and he’s done a great job in controlling the room. I feel like everybody is on the same page.

Now on offensive coordinator No. 3 in as many seasons, Jones is hoping to build the necessary trust to gel with O’Brien.

“What I took from that is that you learn from each one of them,” Jones said. “You take the really good things and you kind of add that to your repertoire. And I think with ‘QB,’ obviously that needs to happen and we’re going to work toward that. There’s a lot of familiarity, but it’s a new relationship still and we’re just working on that trust. That’s what I care about. I’m very much so a trustworthy person and that’s what we’re trying to build.”