From Worcester to Super Bowl 60: Patriots coach reflects on remarkable rise

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From Worcester to Super Bowl 60: Patriots coach reflects on remarkable rise

Mark Daniels · MassLive

Tue, Feb 3, 2026 ·

3 min read

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SAN JOSE, Calif. – It didn't take Ashton Grant long to realize how much his life had changed.

That happened as soon as the Patriots ' team plane took off from the runway at TF Green Airport on Sunday. For the team's quarterback coach, it wasn't that long ago when he was playing locally at Assumption University in Worcester.

His college team didn't travel by air.

Now, Grant finds himself in the Bay Area to coach in Super Bowl 60 when the Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks .

"First thought was, 'wow', because at Assumption College, we never took planes to games," Grant said. "Coming off the runway and seeing all the people and the designs were pretty sweet… But definitely a surreal moment, especially being a football fan and all the things that the Super Bowl means."

Grant grew up in New England , in Manchester, Conn., but admits he was a Philadelphia Eagles fan. He first came to Massachusetts as a wide receiver for Assumption. There, he was a dominant force, setting school records for career receiving yards (3,204), career touchdown receptions (36), and single-season touchdown receptions (13).

After college, he spent the 2018 offseason with the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs . The following year, he returned to Worcester, joining Bob Chesney's staff at Holy Cross as a quality control coach.

During his first year coaching, Grant remembers his mom asking if he thought he'd one day coach in the NFL. He couldn't fathom it. Now, he's at the Super Bowl.

"Everyone who plays the sport of football dreams about being at the Super Bowl. So, for this to be a reality right now, it's pretty cool," Grant said. "When I was at Assumption, this seemed like a pipe dream, something that was almost unfathomable. I remember being at Holy Cross and my mom asking if I wanted to work in the NFL, and I was, like, just so starstruck at the idea. I was like, I'll be lucky if I get a GA job at UConn, so now to be here, it's pretty surreal."

After his season at Holy Cross, Grant joined the Cleveland Browns as a Bill Walsh NFL diversity coaching fellow in 2020. He became an offensive quality control coach in 2021 and then worked as an offensive assistant with a focus on quarterbacks in 2023 and 2024.

That's what led him to New England.

In 2024, Mike Vrabel was on the Browns staff as a coaching and personnel consultant. When he was hired by the Patriots last offseason, he made Grant his quarterbacks coach.

This year marks the first time Grant worked as a position coach, and it culminates with him working with an MVP candidate, Drake Maye , and going to Super Bowl 60.

Grant's flying now.

"Sometimes I have to pinch myself," Grant said. "I think that's credit to Drake Maye and Coach Vrabel. I just try to make those guys proud. But, you know, I couldn't have asked for a better year. This has been unreal to think about. I talk to my wife all the time, like, can you believe this is happening? And it's pretty sweet."

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