Image courtesy of New England Patriots
When you’re growing up Maine, one day working for the Patriots is probably a pipe dream.
Not because someone isn’t talented or intelligent enough, but simply because of how connections work and limitations that exist with living somewhere between four and six hours way.
But then, there’s stories like the one Jack Webb has. Webb is in his first season as the host of the official Patriots pre and postgame show.
The former Thornton Academy, Sacred Heart and Maine alum, Webb’s path towards this incredible opportunity has taken some twists and turns in just a few short years since leaving Thornton Academy.
“I graduated high school in 2018. I was at Sacred Heart and I loved the people I met there, but it just never felt like home,” Webb explained in a recent phone interview. “I remember, we played at Maine and I was actually under-recruited in Maine because the coaching staff at the time…they just didn’t recruit me as serious as Mainers would have liked at that moment. I kind of chose somewhere else out of spite, but I also chose Sacred Heart for the Sports Media degree as well.
“So, we played at Maine in 2019 and I was like ‘damn.’ They kicked our ass and I was like ‘it would have been sick going here.’ You know what I mean? I love Maine to death. I’m so proud to be from Maine and I had like, FOMO. Like, here I am at Sacred Heart and the Black Bears just kicked our ass. After that, I was like, man maybe I should have made that choice. Then, Covid hit and an opportunity came up.”
In 2023, Webb’s playing career as an offensive lineman had to come to an end after suiting up for both Nick Charlton and Jordan Stevens, but he was still able to stick around the program with a bit of a made up title.
“In 2023 I had to medically retire, but I stayed in the program as the ‘Director of Player Morale,” he said with a bit of a chuckle. “I signaled plays and I had already committed in my brain to the fall (season) and they wanted to keep me around, so I was a coaching assistant and was kind of a positive presence around the building, it was fun.”
Three years later, Webb says a friendship with one Black Bears alum has led to a premiere position with the Pats.
“All credit goes to Mike DeVito,” Webb said bluntly when I asked him how this all came about. “Mike DeVito played at Maine, played in the NFL, had a long career. He is just, the best human being in the world. He credits the University of Maine for helping him find God, his wife and his passion for football. So, when his playing career was over, he owed it to U-Maine go come back and give back.
“So, he’s the Director of Player Development up here. That year in 2023, when I only had an internship under my belt, but he had belief in me, he put me in contact with someone he met a long the way. I developed a relationship with that person for three years. He knew of the opportunity with the Patriots, got me an interview and he was willing to put my name out there, which I will forever be grateful for, him and Mike DeVito for that.
“I interviewed and it happened pretty quick.”
So, what’s it been like working with Mike Dussault, Paul Perillo, Fred Kirsch, Alex Francisco, Evan Lazar and the newly-added Troy Brown before and after every game so far this season?
“It’s been nothing short of incredible and a dream come true,” said Webb. “It’s like…showing up to Gillette Stadium for work is a very unique and cool feeling. It’s pretty bizarre. I’m not sure it’ll set in or I’ll ever get used to it. But, the way that Mike, Paul, Troy, Alex, Fred, people behind the scenes like Ashok (Moore), the way they’ve welcomed me with open arms and made me feel comfortable off the bat, I will forever be grateful for.
“It kind of happened seamlessly. I made sure to familiarize myself with the show and figure out what they’re trying to accomplish…the way they’ve helped me out and guided me along the way and honestly, just made it easy for me, it’s been great. It’s so much fun and I think we have one of the best – if not the best – outlets for Patriots stuff. With Fred and Duss and with how much of a legend Paul is, you add Troy Brown and everything he knows…he played offense, defense, special teams and he was a coach. He’s everything in one. It’s insane.”
Webb still does full time TV work up in Maine, with the Patriots job being part time. That allows him to be all football, all the time in a place he still adores.
“It’s part time on game day, so my regular, normal 9-5 is I’m still the sports anchor up in Bangor. I’m serious when I say this, I get to work the best American football weekends…I challenge anybody in the country on this,” he said adamantly.
“Friday night’s I’m covering high school in my home state and local high school football. At 11 on Friday night we have a show called the Sports Blitz. It’s an old school Friday night roundup show…Saturday, I call the Maine football home games as a color analyst and head to Gillette on Sundays.”
Doing that drive on a Sunday morning and then back around 10 p.m. obviously isn’t fun, but location and some friends helping out makes it all much easier.
“So, I’m from Arundel, Maine. It’s right between Biddeford and Kennebunk. So, it’s honestly like a perfect halfway house,” he joked. “It’s two hours from here to Bangor and then two hours from Gillette. So, I’ll buzz home from the Maine game, sleep at the house, wake up early Sunday morning and drive down.
“Or, I’m lucky enough to have a bunch of buddies who live in Southie and one of those kids made me a key to his apartment. It’s awesome.”
While many say working for or covering a professional team is a dream come true, it really is in Webb’s case. Since his days at Thornton Academy when a cringey sports show debuted, he’s always wanted to do this for a living.
It ultimately led to a great nickname referencing the movie Semi-Pro and some attention on Instagram as well.
“I remember my junior year of high school, I’m in the hallway and Jeff Christenbury is one of my teachers there that kind of runs the media department, he grabs me and tells me he has an idea and he wants me to be part of it. Long story short, I shot a free throw underhand in middle school and my nickname was Jackie Moon. It was like self-marketing 101 masterclass because Instagram just started up at the time. I made my (social media) handle JackieMoon25 and so, we started a show called ‘Trojan Talk With Jackie Moon’ where I just went around interviewing other athletes.
“It was on YouTube – I think it’s up there still actually and it’s kind of cringey to go back and look at how bad it was. It was fun and made me realize I loved interviewing and question-asking. It’s why I chose this in college and it’s been a windy path ever since.”
Maine to Foxborough for a a career in sports journalism is certainly quite a different road than many take.
But, it’s one that Webb has proven others can walk if they truly want to follow their dreams.
“It’s the path less-traveled,” he added. “I didn’t go to a Syracuse…I was in a journalism class at U-Maine that had about eight people in it. There was nothing done on cameras. I remember walking up to Dave Peck who’s a mentor of mine, he was the sports anchor at the time at the station I’m at (WFVX) and having to create an internship for myself in the summer. All my reps started doing the sideline stuff for the hockey team and basketball team. All of my reps were live. It was sink or swim. It’s a unique, special experience up here that challenges you, but also allows you to just focus on exactly what you want to do. You’re kind of just up here in the woods and all you have is what you love, which turns to be football or whatever hobbies you may have on the outside.
“It makes me proud. I took the road less traveled and I get to be the representative of Maine and the University of Maine, which makes me very, very, very proud. I’m very happy to be that and that’s been the biggest blessing and dream come true of it.”