Wide receiver Stefon Diggs (1) walks toward the sideline before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Patriots have one little-known connection to Stefon Diggs

By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated Mar 23, 2025 6:10 PM ET

The New England Patriots have been considering signing Stefon Diggs, and they have a connection to the veteran wide receiver that many people are likely unaware of.

Diggs visited with the Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday. While it is unclear if the team made Diggs an actual contract offer, the meeting is said to have been a positive one.

The Patriots are very familiar with Diggs from the four seasons the 31-year-old spent in the AFC East with the Buffalo Bills. Diggs also has a link to the team's new coaching staff, which could potentially help facilitate a deal.

Josh McDaniels has returned to the Patriots for a third stint as their offensive coordinator, this time under new head coach Mike Vrabel. As NFL reporter Ed Werder noted on Sunday, McDaniels' younger brother Ben is the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator with the Houston Texans. Ben worked closely with Diggs last season.

Interesting connnection for the Patriots regarding Stefon Diggs: NE OC Josh McDaniels’ brother Ben is the Texans passing game coordinator and WR coach and worked closely with Diggs last season. A potential source of unique insight into the player. https://t.co/9JCd3LQ5p3
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) March 23, 2025

If nothing else, that should give the Patriots' coaching staff some added insight. Those types of connections are often useful when a team is pursuing a veteran free agent.

Diggs was productive in Houston last year before suffering a season-ending injury. He had 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns through eight games before he tore his ACL.

The Patriots added Mack Hollins to their wide receiver group this offseason, but they are still in desperate need of a top player at the position. Diggs, who made the Pro Bowl four straight seasons with the Bills from 2020-2023, could potentially fill that role in New England if he is fully healthy. The Patriots would have to sign him first, but perhaps Ben McDaniels can help sell Diggs on the idea of playing for Josh.

Steve DelVecchio

Steve is a veteran writer who has covered a variety of sports and pop culture topics for more than 15 years. In addition to Yardbarker, his work has been featured on prominent digital publications including Larry Brown Sports, MSN and FOX Sports. The UConn graduate has published more than 40,000 stories and is one of the most experienced trending news writers in the country

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