Oklahoma is QBU and class is in session for John Mateer as a former student has been promoted to professor.
SoonerScoop’s George Stoia III, while in the midst of publishing a multi-part series on Mateer’s offseason, reported on Monday that part of Mateer’s plan to improve before his second season with the Sooners was studying film with OU great Sam Bradford, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2008 before eventually becoming the top overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. Stoia also revealed that it was actually Bradford who initially reached out to Mateer to make things happen after Bradford missed being in that same role over 15 years ago.
"I was just looking for a way to get back into football a little bit," Bradford told Stoia.
"It's something that I love, and it's something that I miss. I don't have a ton of time on my hands. But I had enough to drive down there a few times. And honestly, I think as you get older, you realize there's a way that you can give back to someone who's younger than you, going through some of the same things that you did, and if you can help them in any way — people did that for me.
"So I think I just looked at it as a way for me to be able to give back and to be a part of it and to really have fun in the film room again."
Sam Bradford on why he reached out to Mateer, wanting to help:
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) July 6, 2026
“I was just looking for a way to get back into a football a little bit… I think as you get older, you realize there’s a way that you can give back to someone who’s younger than you.” https://t.co/y7B4TTHU7m pic.twitter.com/c5V4NpZYPi
Bradford’s experience will obviously benefit Mateer. He spent nine seasons in the NFL between the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals. He was NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2010 before multiple injuries ultimately kept Bradford from ever reaching his full potential. And OU fans are well-aware of what he accomplished during his time in Norman after leading the Sooners to back-to-back Big 12 titles and the 2009 BCS National Championship Game thanks to one of the most potent offenses in college football.
Mateer’s well-covered offseason was prompted after an overall disappointing season while hindered by a broken thumb after transferring from Washington State as the top quarterback in the portal. He missed just one game after undergoing surgery and finished with 2,885 passing yards and 14 TDs compared to 11 interceptions while completing 62.2% of his passes. The season did still end with the Sooners in the College Football Playoff, though.
Read more: John Mateer keeps giving Oklahoma fans every reason to believe in 2026
The biggest knock on Mateer throughout the season, which is also why some fans worry the healed thumb won’t actually make a difference, was his decision-making and accuracy. Those traits, though, were Bradford’s speciality.
Bradford threw 16 picks total during his OU career, compared to Mateer’s 11 in one season. Bradford also threw 86 more passes during his Heisman-winning season than Mateer did in 2025, so there was more chances to make mistakes. In 2016, he led the NFL in completion percentage.
Brent Venables needs to take advantage of Sam Bradford's want to help the Sooners
Today, Bradford is back in his home state of Oklahoma as an entrepreneur and serious golfer. Stoia stated that Bradford attends most of the Sooners’ home games now, meaning he witnessed Mateer’s debut season firsthand and is also still fully bought into his alma mater.
Bradford mentioned he doesn’t have a lot of time on his hands, but the desire to be involved in football again is clearly there. And that could actually be the underrated story here, especially if there’s improvement from Mateer because of his film sessions with Bradford.
Brent Venables finally added a real quarterbacks coach to his staff last year when he hired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who brought quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski with him. Yes, Mateer struggled, but it was still night and day compared to Jackson Arnold or Michael Hawkins Jr. in 2024, when Seth Littrell was coaching the position with no prior experience. And that poor of quarterback play made the offense unwatchable.
The point is, there can’t be too many masterminds helping the most important player on the field. Bradford has the experience, specifically at the same program, to be a unique mentor for any QB1 at OU, not just Mateer. Whether Bradford has the time or not, the door has been opened and Venables needs to make it worth Bradford’s while to have a role with the Sooners to help Oklahoma remain QBU.
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