Who Is the New England Patriots Backup Quarterback in 2026?
Find New England’s backup quarterback depth-chart order, the difference between QB2 and emergency QB, and where to verify changes.
Who Is the New England Patriots Backup Quarterback in 2026?
NFL CONTENT GUIDE • Research cutoff: November 1, 2026
As of the checked 2026 Patriots.com unofficial depth chart, Tommy DeVito is listed as New England's second quarterback behind Drake Maye, with Behren Morton third. This is a depth-chart answer, not a declaration that DeVito will necessarily be the active backup for every game. The club itself labels its chart unofficial and says it reflects the judgment of its site writers rather than an official game-day decision.
Patriots quarterbacks at the research cutoff
| Listed order | Quarterback | Depth-chart meaning |
| First | Drake Maye | First quarterback in the published table |
| Second | Tommy DeVito | Second quarterback in the unofficial listing |
| Third | Behren Morton | Third quarterback in the unofficial listing |
The second spot is the most direct answer to “Who is the Patriots backup QB?” But a listing can change during the season. A trade, injury, practice-squad elevation or late roster decision can alter who actually dresses. The most trustworthy game-day answer is the active-roster information and final inactive release for the specific opponent and date.
What QB2 actually does
A backup quarterback is prepared to take offensive snaps if the starter is unavailable or a coach makes a change. His weekly preparation typically includes studying an opponent's coverages, protection calls and the offense's current package. The fact that a player is QB2 does not predict that he will play; many games end without any backup quarterback taking a competitive snap.
QB3 and the emergency-quarterback question
The NFL has rules governing who may serve as an emergency third quarterback under qualifying circumstances. Eligibility, roster status and game-day designations are critical, so a third name on a website chart should not be automatically described as the emergency quarterback for a particular game. Confirm the announced roster and applicable league rules rather than asserting that every QB3 is eligible to enter regardless of circumstances.
Why listings can disagree
A roster page lists who is under contract; a depth chart ranks selected positions; a gamebook shows who appeared; and the inactive list shows who did not dress. Media reports may estimate a backup before the team releases its weekly decisions. When these sources differ, identify the date and type of list rather than merging all of them into a false certainty.
Frequently asked questions
Who is listed as the Patriots backup QB in 2026?
Tommy DeVito is second behind Drake Maye on the checked unofficial Patriots depth chart.
Who appears third?
Behren Morton.
Does second on the depth chart mean confirmed active on Sunday?
No. The final game-day roster decision must be checked separately.