SHOCKMOVE JUST IN: Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Joe Milton was routinely praised by coaches and fans during his time in Knoxville for being one of the best teammates in the program — especially after losing the starting quarterback job to Hendon Hooker in 2021. Today he described as ‘not a good dude’ by NFL insider and request a comeback deal commitment to Tennessee Vols but still yet to be approved

Former Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton was often praised in Knoxville for his character and team-first attitude, especially after losing the starting role to Hendon Hooker in 2021. Coaches and fans alike viewed him as one of the best teammates in the program.

However, things appeared quite different during his short stint with the New England Patriots. According to team insider Greg Bedard, Milton didn’t make a positive impression within the organization.

Milton, who was drafted by New England in the sixth round in 2024, was traded to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason. Now that he’s out of Foxborough, Bedard has revealed what he heard about Milton’s time there.

“Joe Milton was — and this is a direct quote from someone in the organization — ‘not a good dude,’” said Bedard. “He wasn’t considered a good fit for the quarterback room dynamic. Not that he did anything outrageous, but in terms of understanding his role and contributing to a cohesive group, there were concerns. It wasn’t about Drake Maye specifically, just the overall atmosphere.”

Reportedly, Milton had hopes of competing for the starting job, an opportunity that wasn’t realistically on the table. Instead, the Patriots opted to bring in veteran Josh Dobbs to back up rookie Drake Maye, eventually dealing Milton to Dallas.

Whether or not the “not a good dude” label is deserved is up for debate — that certainly wasn’t the impression he left at Tennessee. Still, Milton now faces the challenge of repairing that perception as he looks to carve out a role in the NFL.