The New England Patriots are ushering in a new chapter with Mike Vrabel at the helm. Determined to turn things around, the team made aggressive offseason moves, spending heavily on key free agents to accelerate their rebuild. That effort has sparked renewed optimism throughout the organization. Team owner Robert Kraft believes the Patriots are finally heading in the right direction.
Kraft told ESPN’s Adam Schefter he feels confident the Patriots will be far more entertaining to watch in the 2025 NFL season.
Bill Belichick’s long tenure in New England ended on a sour note, with a 12-22 record across his final two seasons. His successor, Jerod Mayo, lasted just one year after finishing 4-13 in 2024. In response, Patriots owner Robert Kraft turned to former player and ex-Titans head coach Mike Vrabel to lead a turnaround. The team spent the offseason overhauling a roster that had helped drag them to the bottom of the AFC East.
“The last two years were the worst years of my 31 years of ownership,” said the Patriots owner. “We have to change that. We have a new coach in Mike Vrabel who is really connected with the players, who is doing great work. We have a young quarterback and a lot of great veterans — free agent veterans who came in. A great draft class. We’re gonna have fun this year, I promise.”
Patriots owner Robert Kraft: “The last two years were the worst 31 years of my ownership. We have to change that.”
More with Kraft, plus a conversation with @realchriswebber:
🎧 https://t.co/eHJQ5WCiKJ pic.twitter.com/LcphVY2YOH
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 25, 2025
These are likely the most grounded expectations Kraft can place on the Patriots going into the fall. Given how deep and competitive the AFC is, it would be unrealistic to count on the 2025 Patriots making a meaningful postseason run.
Robert Kraft and the Patriots next season
Still, it’s reasonable to expect New England to be more competitive in the 2025 NFL season. They could even play spoiler, delivering key losses to playoff hopefuls down the stretch.
The Patriots began the offseason with the league’s largest cap space and made the most of it in free agency. They brought in core players on offense and defense, locking in several to multi-year deals.
Offensively, the biggest move was signing Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $69 million deal, establishing him as the team’s top wide receiver. The Patriots also bolstered their offensive line with the additions of Morgan Moses, Garrett Bradbury, and Wes Schweitzer.
On defense, the Patriots made major investments by signing Carlton Davis III, Harold Landry III, and former Eagles standout Milton Williams. They also brought in Robert Spillane and several other players to strengthen the depth of their defensive unit.
The AFC is loaded with powerhouse teams, so the Patriots might need more time to climb back to the top. Still, stacking more wins and watching Drake Maye continue to grow would give New England fans plenty to feel good about as the Vrabel era kicks off.
