Danny Mitchell was just 16 when he met Tom Brady, and that moment reshaped his future. Guided by his grandfather, the renowned quarterback mentor Tom Martínez, Mitchell discovered not only the fundamentals of football, but also the purpose that would steer his entire career.
Martínez, who coached Brady for years, saw potential in his grandson and fueled his passion for teaching the game. “He took me under his wing because I loved coaching football,” Mitchell recalled. Through that connection, he received the rare opportunity to work closely with Brady. “People see Tom Brady after three Super Bowls,” he explained. “But before that, he was simply my throwing partner through Tom Martínez.”
A lesson that never faded
According to The Sports Rush, Mitchell said Brady treated him with the same respect he showed Bill Belichick. “He treated me exactly the same way he would treat Bill Belichick,” Mitchell revealed. That moment left a permanent mark on him. He understood that respect and professionalism are not defined by age, status, or role. That lesson became a pillar of his coaching philosophy.
Today, Mitchell serves as the running backs coach at UAB, and that early experience continues to shape his approach on the field. His career has taken him through Europe and various NFL developmental programs, but his core inspiration remains unchanged: his grandfather and Brady.
Mitchell also recalled a decisive moment when Martínez invited him to the Bay Area to work with quarterback Matt Gutiérrez. “That was when I knew I wanted to start coaching,” he said. From that day, he devoted himself to teaching, motivating, and elevating every player he encountered.
Before Martínez passed away, he left Mitchell with words that still drive him. “His last words before saying ‘I love you’ were, ‘I always wanted to see your name on the ESPN wire,’” Mitchell shared. That message became his mission. Today, Mitchell honors his grandfather’s legacy through his dedication to coaching and through the lesson Brady unknowingly cemented in him: treat everyone with the same respect you give the very best.
