SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Close to the tip of a sweltering coaching camp observe on the New England Patriots facility in late August, veteran heart Garrett Bradbury was requested if he had a way for what success would possibly appear to be for the 2025 Patriots. The workforce was within the midst of a reset after back-to-back four-win seasons and Bradbury had signed on as a free agent months earlier.
“Actually, no,” Bradbury stated. “That is [Year] 7 for me and there is been years the place I did not suppose we’d be excellent, and we win a bunch of video games. And vice versa.”
5 months later, Bradbury was within the locker room at Denver’s Empower Subject at Mile Excessive after the Patriots had gained the AFC Championship Sport. He tried to make sense of the Patriots’ success that included a 14-3 season and now a visit to Tremendous Bowl LX in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, California (Sunday, 6:30 p.m., NBC).
“Are you able to consider this?” he requested. “This is sort of a dream.”
Over the past 12 months, the Patriots have made a collection of calculated choices that led to an inconceivable Tremendous Bowl run.
It started with proprietor Robert Kraft firing first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, and hiring Mike Vrabel, who had six seasons of head teaching expertise with the Tennessee Titans (2018-2023). From Day 1, Vrabel had a imaginative and prescient of the workforce he needed to construct — one which was deeply rooted in workforce tradition and connection.
That imaginative and prescient translated into free company and the NFL draft, including a gaggle of gritty gamers who would find yourself delivering clutch on-field performances underneath stress in essential video games — akin to a Week 5 street win over the divisional rival Buffalo Payments. These moments, together with an MVP-caliber season by second-year quarterback Drake Maye, have been key to getting the Patriots on the Tremendous Bowl stage quicker than anybody anticipated — together with gamers.
“I knew we had a younger quarterback that confirmed loads of potential,” receiver Stefon Diggs stated about his preseason expectations. “… At that time, I in all probability would not have been capable of say, ‘We’re in all probability going to go to the Tremendous Bowl.’ I wasn’t betting on that. I used to be betting on simply attaching myself and hoping my teammates connect themselves to the method of successful.”
Govt vice chairman of participant personnel Eliot Wolf stated he might see early on that what Vrabel was constructing was working.
“After like two weeks, when the gamers bought right here within the offseason, I used to be like, ‘All proper, Mike’s going to have the ability to flip this.’ However I did not know the way shortly it could occur,” Wolf stated. “It occurred in a short time. And clearly, you realize, the outcomes are right here. Perhaps faster than some anticipated.”
The Patriots one-year turnaround is anchored by 5 pivotal moments that specify precisely how they’ve succeeded.
Kraft’s daring pivot
It occurred quick.
About one hour after the 2024 regular-season finale on Jan. 5, 2025, Kraft fired Mayo following a 4-13 roller-coaster season that ended with two sparsely attended dwelling video games. Some followers have been seen sporting paper luggage over their heads within the stands, exhibiting their displeasure.
The subsequent day, Kraft stored his remarks temporary, saying he put Mayo in an untenable place.
“This entire scenario is on me,” he stated, bringing his proper hand to his chest and patting it twice. “Now I’ve to exit and discover a coach who can get us again to the playoffs and hopefully championships.”
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Kraft stated he went backwards and forwards over December of 2024 on the choice to fireside Mayo. One issue he needed to take into account was Vrabel, who spent a 12 months as an offensive assistant with the Cleveland Browns after being fired by the Titans, interviewed for the rival New York Jets’ head teaching emptiness on Jan. 3.
Because of this, the 32-year proprietor swiftly employed Vrabel, who had gained three Tremendous Bowl championships as a linebacker in New England from 2001-2008, on Jan. 12, 2025.
As quickly as his introductory press convention, Vrabel mapped out his plans for galvanizing the Patriots again to successful, saying, “We need to deal with each participant the identical approach they deal with the workforce, and we need to deal with each worker the identical approach they deal with the workforce.” He needed a program that supported gamers and was one they’d be proud to battle for. One of many guiding philosophies: “They do not care how a lot you realize till they know the way a lot you care.”
Hiring an skilled employees of assistants that have been aligned with that imaginative and prescient was essential, a lot of whom had been with Vrabel in Tennessee. Vice chairman of soccer operations and technique John Streicher was Vrabel’s right-hand man with the Titans, and his presence was necessary for Vrabel. Likewise with vice chairman of participant personnel Ryan Cowden, who joined the entrance workplace underneath Wolf.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was one other key rent given the presence of Maye, who Vrabel stated was a main think about why he coveted the job.
These fast choices and those that might observe are the muse of the Patriots’ success.
“From Day 1, [Vrabel] set that customary, that tradition, and he introduced in guys to assist him with that message,” linebacker Harold Landry III stated. “Vrabel is on the forefront of all of it.”
Cashing in on free company
On the 2025 NFL mix, Vrabel was clear concerning the Patriots’ upcoming free company plan.
“I like to buy like everyone else. If you go and there is just one sure automotive, possibly it’s important to pay just a little extra for that one automotive,” he stated.
Defensive deal with Milton Williams turned out to be that automotive for the Patriots; his four-year, $104 million contract was a workforce document, highlighting an aggressive theme from Vrabel & Co. in restocking the roster with a multi-year imaginative and prescient in thoughts due to shaky drafts in prior seasons.
And whereas Williams has been the engine powering a protection main the Patriots by way of the playoffs, there have been loads of passengers alongside him.
The Patriots spent $209 million in assured cash on free brokers, probably the most of any workforce within the NFL final offseason.
Of the 17 gamers the Patriots dedicated assured cash, 15 stay with the workforce — most in key roles. The exceptions are veteran offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer (retired) and security Marcus Epps (launched), who accounted for a mixed $650,000 in assured cash.
They will now develop into the second straight workforce to win the Tremendous Bowl after spending probably the most assured cash in free company within the earlier offseason, following the 2024 Eagles, who spent $275 million assured on free brokers. Williams, whose contract included $63 million assured, was on that Eagles workforce and starred in Tremendous Bowl LIX with two sacks of Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“If you have a look at free company, it’s important to get the suitable individuals. They should be proficient however they should be manufactured from the suitable stuff. Their bones are good,” Vrabel stated. “That is the problem you wage in free company typically and we have been very intentional concerning the individuals we needed, and the kind of individuals we needed to make commitments to.”
Lots of the free brokers the Patriots signed have been gamers the employees was already aware of.
Veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III ($34.5 million assured) performed for the Detroit Lions in 2024, the place present DC Terrell Williams was the line of defense coach. Landry ($26 million) spent the primary six years of his profession enjoying for Vrabel in Tennessee. Linebacker Robert Spillane ($20.6 million) broke into the NFL with Vrabel’s Titans as an undrafted rookie.
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Then there was the duty of discovering a confirmed receiver that might elevate the offense.
The Patriots hoped so as to add Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin, however Godwin selected to remain in Tampa for considerably lower than the $30 million per season the Patriots have been providing.
Vrabel had pressured the significance of with the ability to pivot in these conditions, and it led them to Diggs ($26 million). That got here with threat, because the 32-year-old Diggs was getting back from a torn proper ACL sustained in October of 2024. However the reward was a bonanza — not solely did Diggs lead the workforce with 85 receptions for 1,013 yards, his aggressive spirit resonated as his early-season pre-game speech of “All of us we bought, all of us we want” turned a workforce rallying cry.
“I feel a few of the guys that we introduced in — Spillane, Diggs, Milton Williams — have actually proven these different guys what they are often able to,” Wolf stated of the free agent class after the AFC Championship Sport.
Offensive deal with Morgan Moses (three years, $24 million), receiver Mack Hollins (two years, $8.4 million), edge rusher Okay’Lavon Chaisson (one 12 months, $3 million) and Bradbury (two years, $9.5 million) additionally turned out to be shrewd under-the-radar signings.
Reflecting his view of the Patriots’ depleted roster final February, and why such an aggressive strategy was wanted, Vrabel stated: “Free company is normally about compensation and alternative. We’re able to supply each.”
He had additionally cautioned on the time that there would seemingly be some signings that did not work out, which was one of many few instances Vrabel has been off the mark in a 12 months he was named AP Coach of the Yr.
“There’s not a man in that free company class we did not hit on,” stated Moses, who at 34 is the workforce’s oldest participant and delivered a season of “excellent” play in Vrabel’s view.
“That is kudos to the entrance workplace. That is kudos to Coach Vrabel [for] doing his due diligence. It has been an awesome collaboration all through all of us. Each man that got here in has performed a major half and function. And likewise as individuals within the locker room grooming the youthful guys as nicely.”
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The Patriots’ 4 H’s: Historical past, Heroes, Heartbreak and Hope
Coach Mike Vrabel requested gamers in a workforce assembly to share a narrative about their hometown, a hero, heartbreak, and hope.
Historical past, hero, heartbreak and hope
On April 7, 2025, Vrabel launched a team-building train in the course of the Patriots’ voluntary offseason program that might stick with every participant all through the season.
It was his high precedence to construct connection between teammates and the employees, so he took an thought he realized from former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and he stepped in entrance of the workforce to share his 4 H’s:
Historical past — The place do you come from?
Hero — Who do you look as much as?
Heartbreak — What’s your biggest heartbreak?
Hope — What’s your biggest hope?
“There was no actual route apart from ‘I am going to go first and we’ll see the place it goes.’ I used to be nervous. It was my first time talking like that and talking candidly about me and a few issues which might be fairly private,” Vrabel recalled.
The “4 H’s” have been credited by gamers with serving to to create a close-knit workforce.
“After we first heard we have been going to do these ‘4 H’s’, and type of stand up there and share our tales, guys did not actually know the way it was going to go, what it could appear to be,” linebacker Jack Gibbens stated. “However Coach Vrabes bought up there first, and he actually opened up. I feel when everyone noticed that, we noticed how cool this may very well be and get to know one another that approach.”
The “4 H’s” normally got here close to the tip of the week, with one hour of assembly time dedicated to them. Whereas largely an offseason undertaking, it continued into the beginning of coaching camp when rookies have been included. Gamers despatched in photos, and as soon as these have been uploaded, they knew they have been within the queue to be referred to as upon by Vrabel.
As many as 5 – 6 gamers shared their “4 H’s” in a single day, their names picked out of a espresso mug.
“Each time that espresso mug got here out, I knew I used to be going to listen to any person’s story, an inspiring story,” working again Rhamondre Stevenson stated. “All of them simply made me respect my teammates extra. I knew what they went by way of, their trials and tribulations. It makes it that rather more particular — you realize who you are preventing with on that subject.”
Earlier than the Patriots departed for the Tremendous Bowl final week, Vrabel referenced the “4 H’s” to the workforce, bringing it full circle.
“In the beginning of the [year], we talked about our tales and what hopes we had — loads of our hopes was to win the Tremendous Bowl,” Maye stated. “And look the place we’re at now. All these hopes are coming to a actuality.”
Constructing for the long run on the NFL draft
With 11 alternatives within the 2025 NFL draft, a visit to Baton Rouge within the days main as much as the draft solidified their first transfer — choosing offensive deal with Will Campbell with the No. 4 total decide.
“Each time Vrabes got here down for my personal exercise, that was in all probability the fourth time we had been round one another. I knew what was at stake,” Campbell stated.
Vrabel sensed from the second he stepped on LSU’s campus that Campbell “needed to indicate us that he was the man.” Then Campbell shortly discovered a option to Vrabel’s soccer coronary heart by knocking him on his bottom whereas they labored on cutoff blocks, earlier than taking Vrabel and the opposite eight Patriots executives, scouts and coaches to his favourite restaurant — Phil’s Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant.
Previous LSU jerseys adorn the partitions at Phil’s, the place char-grilled oysters are devoured. Campbell was such an everyday that he casually references the identify of proprietor Anthony Piazza as if he is a longtime good friend.
These forms of connections matter to Vrabel.
“I identical to what he is about — every thing he stands for, what he believes in,” Vrabel stated.
Campbell, 22, has been the tone-setter for an 11-member draft class wherein each participant is on the workforce’s 53-man roster, together with 4 undrafted free brokers. He has been a Day 1 starter at left deal with and comedian aid each Friday in delivering the workforce’s “Weekend Replace” — a no-holds-barred, joke-filled speech that has develop into a workforce staple.
Working again TreVeyon Henderson, a second-round decide from Ohio State, turned the primary Patriots participant with a number of video games in a season with 50-yard landing runs, and is simply the second participant in NFL historical past to perform that feat, becoming a member of Titans working again Chris Johnson in 2009.
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Security Craig Woodson, a fourth-round decide from Cal, led the protection in snaps performed (94%) and was pinpointed by Landry because the participant on protection who deserves extra recognition.
Rookie kicker Andy Borregales (sixth spherical) completed 27-of-32 on subject targets and 53-of-55 on point-after makes an attempt, together with his 52-yard game-winning kick late within the fourth quarter of a Week 5 win over the Payments cited by teammates as one of many high performs of the 12 months.
“This rookie class has been superior,” Campbell stated. “Now we have a bunch of nice dudes who contribute quite a bit on the sphere, however you’ll be able to see what sort of human beings they have been in search of.”
Of the 38 groups to play within the Tremendous Bowl since 2007, when ESPN started monitoring snap-count knowledge, the Patriots’ 18.2% of snaps performed by rookies is the very best amongst that group. Campbell and third-round decide Jared Wilson (left guard) will develop into the primary rookies to begin on the identical offensive line in a Tremendous Bowl.
Moses, in his twelfth NFL season, credited the rookie class for its humbleness.
Sixth-year security Jaylinn Hawkins added: “They got here in and executed on a excessive stage. Actual mature. Quite a lot of rookies do not are available like that.”
The day every thing clicked
On Oct. 5, 2025, in a Week 5 sport in opposition to the Payments in Orchard Park, NY, one thing clicked for the Patriots — and it modified the trajectory of the season.
They have been 2-2, having alternated wins and losses within the first month of the season.
However the Sunday night time street sport in opposition to the five-time defending AFC East champion could be a real measuring stick.
The Patriots managed the primary two quarters, however solely led 6-3 at halftime. Then the Payments scored on the opening drive of the second half and Highmark Stadium was shaking as the gang roared … solely to have Maye ship an sudden knockout punch that included arguably his finest throw of the season — an off-platform 32-yard dart to Diggs alongside the suitable sideline that may in the end be remembered because the play wherein he introduced his official arrival within the NFL.
“I feel that was the epitome of ‘Street Warriors’. That actually began it,” stated Maye, whose exemplary second-half efficiency (13 of 14 for 184 yards) helped the Patriots shock the Payments 23-20 on Borregales’ 52-yard subject aim with 15 seconds remaining.
“That mentality of successful one in Buffalo, the place they’d a streak of [14] dwelling wins at the moment. Simply understanding that our identification and what we play with, it isn’t at all times going to be fairly on the street, and trusting ourselves, that perception did not waver. It began the ‘Street Warriors’ mentality and we have carried it since then.”
The Patriots went on to develop into the primary workforce in NFL historical past to publish a 9-0 document on the street, capturing their first division title for the reason that 2019 season.
Wolf stated that was the time he seen a shift inside the workforce from “ready for one thing dangerous to occur to, ‘I’ll go make a play.'”
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Maye recalled aid and exhaustion within the post-game locker room, a reminder “of what it takes to win a sport like that, in opposition to a playoff workforce.”
In the meantime, coaches, akin to vast receivers coach Todd Downing, felt a rising connection between gamers and the employees.
“The Buffalo sport type of galvanized our gamers’ perception in what we have been asking them to do,” he stated. “As much as that time, we have been type of discovering our approach. Vrabes does such a very good job at casting the methods of what it’s going to take to win every week, and trusting his employees to exit and paint the image offensively, defensively and particular groups.
“I feel gamers noticed, ‘these guys are steering us in the suitable route.’ Going right into a hostile setting that early within the course of, I feel it galvanized everybody’s perception that we’re on target; if we tighten this up just a little bit, we will win some video games.”
That was the second win of a streak that climbed to 10 in a row, the workforce benefiting at instances from one of many NFL’s best schedules because of its last-place end in 2024.
The streak was snapped in a rematch in opposition to the Payments in Week 15. Dropping a 17-point halftime lead sparked questions if the Patriots had peaked. However they responded the next sport in Baltimore by erasing an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to publish a 28-24 victory behind some magical work from Maye.
They have not misplaced since, with the protection main the cost within the playoffs and into Tremendous Bowl LX.
Bradbury, the veteran heart who spent the primary six years of his profession with the Vikings, stated he not too long ago checked his pocket book to revisit a message that McDaniels had shared in a late November unit assembly:
“We will do that!”
McDaniels then confirmed the offense video of how championship groups observe and play.
“You continue to have a means of specializing in 1-0 every week, however you acknowledge what’s forward, which I feel is exclusive,” Bradbury stated.
“So that you at all times suppose it is doable. You then’re in it, and you are like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s, it’s.’ Now we’re right here.”
