After the Brady dynasty, the Patriots needed a new face of the Franchise, and after trials, they found their great Brady replacement. Could he fill the shoes of Brady, or was that truly an impossible task?
On March 17, 2020, Tom Brady, through a series of social media posts, announced he was leaving the Patriots. After Tom Brady left the Patriots, many wondered what was next. On April 29, 2021, Patriots fans thought they had an answer, when the Patriots drafted Mac Jones. Jones played college at Alabama, where they dominated. In his 1st year as the full time starter they went 13-0, eventually winning the national championship. Mac ended up coming in 3rd in Heisman voting (the heisman is the “MVP” type award for college football). He came 3rd behind Trevor Lawrence (2nd), the QB for Clemson, and Devonta Smith, his teammate.
Devonta was his top WR, and by far the best player in college football that year. The fact that one of his own WRs won the heisman can be looked at in two ways. First, you could say Mac was good enough to get the ball to Devonta effectively, so he helped make Mac. The other way to look at it, though, is that Devonta was so good that Mac didn’t actually have to do much, and that Devonta made Mac look better than he was.
Hope for Mac Jones = Deflated
Either way, the Patriots chose to believe the first option, that Mac was actually good on his own. So, with their first round pick, the 15th pick in the draft, they selected Mac Jones. Many Patriots fans were on the fence about him, many had faith he could be the next franchise QB for them, but many also believed he wasn’t good enough to be an NFL starter. However, no matter what people believed, being the successor to Tom Brady set him up for failure. Nobody was going to be able to step right into the shoes of the greatest players in the history of football, right?
Well, in mid 2021, the Patriots announced he would in fact be the starting quarterback for them in his rookie year. Mac had a pretty good year. He had 3801 yards on a 67.6% completion percentage, with 22 TDs and 13 interceptions. He led the Patriots to a 10-7 record, and a playoff appearance. They lost in the 1st round, but it gave people hope in Mac.
He didn’t have a great rookie season, sure, but if he cleans up his game and throws fewer interceptions, he could be amazing. That’s what many people thought, but that never came to fruition.
Many people blame the coaching, but regardless, Mac Jones flopped in his 2nd year, throwing for 2,997 yards on 65% completion rate, with only 14 TDs and 11 interceptions still. Granted, he missed 3 games with a concussion, but either way, he looked like he had regressed. The Patriots went 8-9 (6-8 with Mac at QB) in that season. The Patriots, however, were in a little bit of a rebuilding year, as they were still trying to retool their team after many Brady-era players retired or left. However, either way, it was clear Jones wasn’t gonna be the answer. Regardless, the Patriots gave him one more chance as the starter, hoping he could bring back some of his rookie year magic for the 2023 season. However, just like the season before, it only went further downhill. Mac was playing terribly. In the season he threw for 12 interceptions and 10 TDs, in only 11 games. It boiled over in that very 11th game where Mac threw for only 89 yards, and had 2 interceptions. Halfway through the game, he was benched for the 2nd game in a row due to bad performance, and he never played again for the Patriots.
The Patriots had the 15th best defense, but they were tied for the worst offense in the NFL. They ended up with a 4-13 record (2-9 In games where Mac started). Bailey Zappe, who was drafted in the 4th round of the 2022 draft as Mac, finished the season and went 2-4. The blame wasn’t all on Mac, though. The offense put around Mac was pathetic in every way possible. They had a very poor rushing game, and Mac’s receivers were not good. However, Zappe, who is not a good QB in any way, outperformed Mac in his games played, even with the same supporting cast Mac played with.
The one bright spot of the 2023 season was Christian Gonzalez, their rookie 1st round pick. The cornerback only played 4 games, but had already shown he was an elite talent and would be a huge part of the Patriots defense for years to come. The cornerback was taken 17th overall and had high expectations, and reached those expectations and more in those few games he played before he tore his labrum in week 4.
QB Needed, Enter Drake Maye
The only other positive thing that came out of the 2023 season is that because the Patriots were 4-13, they earned the 3rd overall pick in the draft, and the draft was a great one. The Patriots were in need of many positions, and they really just needed to rebuild the team in general. However after trading Mac Jones away to the Jaguars, the Patriots were really in need of a QB.
The prize of the 2024 draft was Caleb Williams, the star QB who played college football for USC, and won the 2022 Heisman trophy (College Football MVP). The other star of the draft was Jayden Daniels, LSU QB who won the Heisman in 2023. Both were QBs, so Patriots fans were hopeful at least one of the two would be available at the 3rd pick. However, there were three more highly regarded quarterbacks in 2024, all who were projected to be top picks: Drake Maye, Michael Penix, JJ McCarthy, and Bo Nix. Everyone knew the Patriots were gonna end up with one of these QBs, as it was basically set in stone that the Bears would take Caleb Williams at #1, and the Commanders would take Jayden Daniels at #2. However, there were many rumors that the Patriots would trade their pick to the Giants, since the Giants were very interested in taking Drake Maye. People thought the Patriots might trade the pick to the Giants and take JJ McCarthy with the Giants old pick.
However, the Patriots stayed at pick 3 and drafted Drake Maye, the QB from University of North Carolina. Drake was the type of QB who was really great in college, but still made some big mistakes, and needed some mentoring and practice. In the NFL, fans call these types of guys projects. The idea is that you have to give the player time. They’re not going to come straight out of college and play well. They’re gonna start slow, but you have to trust that they have all the natural talent and ability to be an amazing player. Whereas some players are described as “NFL ready,” meaning they have the ability to play very well as soon as they enter the NFL. Caleb Williams, the #1 overall pick I previously talked about, was that kind of guy.
In Drake’s rookie year, Jacoby Brissett started the season at QB. Brissett was a veteran and was brought in to help to develop Drake as well as play smart, veteran football and hold down the fort while Drake developed. This strategy worked with many QBs, some elite QBs of today, like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, did not start their first year. Or even in the past, guys like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Brett Favre all were not starters in their rookie year.
That same patient approach extended beyond just Drake Maye. The Patriots entered the 2024 season clearly focused on rebuilding the team as a whole. After years of trying to remain competitive without a true franchise quarterback, the organization finally accepted that they needed time to develop young talent across the roster.
The defense continued to be the stronger side of the team. One of the most important pieces was still Christian Gonzalez. In the games he played, Gonzalez often matched up against the opposing team’s best wide receiver and showed why the Patriots selected him in the first round. Along with a solid group of defensive players, the Patriots were able to keep games close even when the offense struggled.
On offense, the team still had many issues. The offensive line was inconsistent, the running game lacked production, and the wide receiver group did not have a true star. However, unlike previous seasons, these problems were no longer being ignored. The Patriots were using the season to see which players could improve and which positions needed to be addressed in the future.
Eventually during his rookie season, Maye got his first chance. Maye’s rookie season was not perfect. He made mistakes, turned the ball over at times, and took unnecessary risks. However, these mistakes were expected from a young quarterback still adjusting to the NFL. What stood out was that he showed steady improvement as the season progressed, and his raw talent was undeniable.
By the end of the season, though,the Patriots were still not a good team. They finished 4-13, as they were still retooling the offense and the defense needed to get some positions filled. However, they were no longer in the same position they had been in during previous years. The team had a clear direction. They had young players on both sides of the ball, a defense that could compete if they added a few more players, and most importantly, a quarterback with the ability to grow into a long-term starter.
While the Patriots were still in the early stages of that process, the foundation had been set. And for the first time in several years, the team appeared to be moving forward rather than searching for answers.
Going into the 2025 season, expectations for the Patriots were still fairly low. While there was optimism surrounding Drake Maye entering his second year, most people did not expect the team to immediately become contenders. The roster was still young, and many positions were still being rebuilt. In the draft they had the 4th overall pick, and after rumors of trades, they stayed put and drafted tackle Will Campbell. This was huge, because their biggest need was a tackle, since Drake Maye had been getting terrible pass protection in his rookie year. He would get beat up every game. With some of their other picks the Patriots took: RB Treyveon Henderson, WR Kyle Williams, and C Jared Wilson, all who have been great picks in hindsight.
The Patriots still had some big needs other than the positions they took in the draft though, so they looked to free agency to fill them. They had some big signings including: WR Stefon Diggs, DT Milton Williams, LB Robert Spillane, and CB Carlton Davis III, they had filled some of their biggest needs. The Patriots also brought in former Patriots player Mike Vrabel as their head coach, which was their biggest addition.
Drake Maye was named the starting quarterback heading into the season. Compared to his rookie year, he has looked more comfortable running the offense. He has made quicker decisions, handled pressure better, and showed improvement in limiting mistakes.
Showtime with the Bills
One of the most important moments of the 2025 season came in a game against the Buffalo Bills. Since Brady’s departure, the Bills had largely dominated the Patriots and controlled the division. In recent years, games against Buffalo often felt out of reach before they even started. That changed in this matchup.
Against the Bills, the Patriots played one of their most complete games in years. The defense held its ground, and the offense was able to sustain drives. Drake Maye played with confidence and showed the ability to lead the team in a high-pressure divisional game. The Patriots did not look overmatched, which they had been the last few years against their rival. The Patriots went on to win 23-20. Fans began to realize this year really could be a turning point. After the Bills game, the Patriots played with more consistency. They went on to win the next 9 games, before they lost to the Bills in another tight game. Regardless, they were starting to look like a top team in the league, and they were winning on a weekly basis. Maye continued to improve as the season went on, and the defense remained a reliable strength.They finished 14-3, after being 4-13 in each of the last 2 seasons. 
Because they had such a good record, they obtained the #2 seed in the NFL Playoffs, after they lost a tiebreaker for the #1 seed (which gets you a free pass through the first round). This meant they would play the worst team that made the playoffs, the 7th seed Los Angeles Chargers. Though they were the 7th seed, it was by no means going to be an easy matchup. The other benefit of the high seeding was they got to host the Chargers, in New England.
The weather in New England was terrible as usual, and the Patriots were used to it, but the Chargers didn’t have as much experience with cold and wet weather. The Patriots used to their advantage, by dominating the Chargers on defense and only allowing 3 points all game. Many fans complained the game was boring, as both offenses couldn’t get much going. However, the Patriots managed a respectable 16 points, which was more than enough for a hard fought win.
Next Up: Houston
In round 2, the “Divisional Round,” the Patriots matched up against the Houston Texans, the #5 seed. The Patriots again had the advantage of home field, and again, the weather played to their advantage. The game was another defensive battle, the Texans had one of the best defenses in NFL history, and the Patriots were 16-0 this year when both of their 2 best defensive players, Milton Williams and Christian Gonzalez played. Both of those players did play in this game, and had huge effects. Milton Williams consistently pressured the Houston QB, CJ Stroud, and helped the Patriots force 4 interceptions. One of those was a pick-six by Marcus Jones. On the other hand, Christian Gonzalez locked down the Texans receivers, and forced a huge fumble late in the game. Offensively, the Patriots started slow again, and didn’t do much after their first early touchdown to WR Demario “Pop” Douglas. However, the pick-six in the 2nd quarter turned everything around. The Patriots crowd was hyped up, and the Patriots fed off of that. They scored another touchdown late in the half on a great catch by WR Stefon Diggs. When the half ended, the Patriots were up 21-10.
The second half was slow for both teams, but the Texans got 2 field goals in the 3rd quarter, putting them down by only 5. This put pressure back on the Patriots offense, and they responded. The Patriots put the game away on an unbelievable play. Drake Maye threw a deep ball to WR Kayshon Boutte, who is notorious for making deep ball catches, and he reached out with one hand to make an unbelievable catch, for a 32 yard touchdown, and it took the life out of the Texans. Nobody scored again in the game, and it ended 28-16.
Many fans left concerned with Drake Maye’s performance, as he had some bad fumbles. However, Drake was playing against the best defense the NFL has seen in a while, in bad, wet conditions. Furthermore, in the big moments he made some game saving plays.
Houston Down, Watch Out Broncos
The Patriots next game was against the #1 seed Denver Broncos. Meaning they would now have to leave the comforts of home and play in Denver, against the team with the best record in the NFL. The Broncos starting QB is Bo Nix, who was drafted in the same draft as Drake Maye, 9 picks later. However, in the Broncos win against the Bills in the divisional round, Bo broke a bone in his ankle, sidelining him for the rest of the Playoffs. This was a huge blow for the Broncos, as starting QB is the most important position on a team. Without Bo, they had only a week to plan around a completely new QB who hadn’t played an NFL game in 2 years.
Going into the game against the Broncos (the AFC Championship) the Patriots only needed to win 2 more games to win Super Bowl. In addition, after starting the season with +7500 odds to win the Super Bowl (equivalent to a 1.3% chance), The Patriots odds the week of the game were +255 (equivalent to a 28.1% chance).
The Patriots AFC Championship game was another weather-affected, slow game. The Patriots went down 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, on a passing touchdown to Broncos star receiver Courtland Sutton. However, late in the 2nd quarter, after a slow start on offense, the Patriots drove down the field and scored a huge touchdown. Drake Maye led the way and even ran in the touchdown himself from the 6 yard line. The game stayed at 7-7 going into halftime, after both teams missed long desperation field goal attempts in the wind.
In the 3rd quarter, the weather started to deteriorate. The Patriots took advantage, after getting the ball first in the 2nd half, they slowly drove down the field and kicked a field goal to make it 10-7. Seems minor, right? Well the drive was 9:28 long. With the weather now going downhill fast, it was becoming impossible for either team to score, the patriots hadn’t even given them a chance in the bad weather. Snow was coming down hard, it was super windy, and the players were all sliding around. Throwing the ball in the low visibility and wind was too risky, so the Patriots were basically just running up the middle 3 times, and punting it back to the Broncos. The Broncos literally could not score, they had a horrible run game as is, and with the passing game completely worthless in the weather, what else could they do?
In the 4th quarter, with 3 minutes left, the Broncos had one last drive where they needed to score. If they didn’t score, the Patriots could easily run out the rest of the clock. The Broncos QB, Jarret Stidham, aired it out deep in desperation. Patriots superstar Christian Gonzalez picked it off. The game was all but over; the Patriots were on their way to the Super Bowl.
Seahawks Showdown
Later that night, the Seattle Seahawks beat Los Angeles to advance to the Super Bowl and face the Patriots. That meant the Patriots vs Seahawks was the matchup. The same matchup we saw 11 years ago, when one of the most famous plays of all time happened, and the Seahawks still want revenge.
The Seahawks were on the 5 yard line with 1 minute left, first down. They were down 4, so a touchdown would put them ahead and basically end the game. Not to mention, they had arguably the best player in history to have in that scenario, Marshawn Lynch. Marshawn is one of the great running backs of the century, and his biggest strength was plays like that, just running up the middle and getting that first down, he was a tank.
Surely, the game was over, right? It’s 1st down, and you have Marshawn, just hand it to him 3 times and he surely will score. They handed it to Marshawn once and he got the 1 yard line.However, in one of the most head scratching play calls of all time, they threw the ball on the next play, and relatively unknown CB, Malcom Butler, picked it off. It is one of the most famous sports plays of all time. With 25 seconds left, it was over, the Patriots had won it on a miracle.
The Seahawks still haven’t let it go, it haunts them, and now they can get their revenge, this Sunday. They are huge favorites, as they dominated the rest of the league this year. Many people still think that the Patriots and Drake Maye are frauds, citing they had an “easy schedule” or “they got lucky in the playoffs” However, in the Super Bowl, anything can happen.
Will the Seahawks uphold the notion that they are truly the best football team in the world, or will the Patriots flip the script, and win their 7th Super Bowl, with more Drake Maye Magic?
