The Patriots Rebuild Their Record
By Maggie Hoffman
After five long, excruciating years, the Patriots are back on top of the NFL. Following the legendary Tom Brady’s departure in 2019 and three-time coach of the year Bill Belichick’s fall off and subsequent firing after the 2023 season, all hope seemed lost. New England had back-to-back four-win seasons and looked far from the team that dominated the league for nearly 20 years.
Unfortunately for the rest of the league, the Patriots’ rebuild did not take very long. Their poor records earned them high picks in recent drafts, which they certainly used to their advantage. In 2023, New England selected cornerback Christian Gonzalez out of Oregon with the 17th pick. In 2024, they chose quarterback Drake Maye from the University of North Carolina third overall. The combination of the two star players has laid the foundation for a sudden resurgence.
Other players that have been key to New England’s dominance are 2025 arrivals Stefon Diggs and TreVeyon Henderson. Diggs, a 31-year-old wide receiver, was signed as a free agent this past offseason, while Henderson, a former running back for Ohio State, was drafted in the second round. They have both proven to be valuable pieces thus far, putting up considerable stats. Henderson had a three-touchdown game this past Thursday, and Diggs had over 100 yards.
Teams are not simply successful based on the talent on the roster. How that talent is utilized boils down to the coaching staff. Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel was announced as the team’s new head coach at the start of this year, succeeding Jerod Mayo. Vrabel, who played linebacker for the Patriots in the early 2000s, won three Super Bowls with the team. He is now the favorite for this season’s Coach of the Year award.
Coming off a Thursday Night Football win against the New York Jets, the Patriots now sit atop the league with a 9-2 record. They have won eight straight games and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Drake Maye is in the conversation for league MVP and currently leads the betting odds. The Patriots are a near-lock to make the playoffs this season, and have a legitimate chance of bringing New England its first Super Bowl in the post-Tom Brady era.
