Patriots' Legends Confident in Team's Future After Super Bowl Run

Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman believe the Patriots are just getting started after last season's surprise success.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:55pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fragmented, geometric interpretation of a Patriots football game, with sharp planes of navy blue, red, and silver representing the team's players and action on the field.Former Patriots stars see the team's surprise Super Bowl run as the start of a new era of sustained success.NYC Today

Former New England Patriots stars Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman expressed confidence in the team's long-term outlook following their unexpected Super Bowl appearance last season. Despite facing an easy regular season schedule and a relatively weak playoff field, Gronkowski and Edelman said the Patriots' 2025 campaign was no fluke and that the team is poised for sustained success with their young core of players and coaching staff.

Why it matters

The Patriots' return to the Super Bowl after a multi-year absence was a surprise to many NFL observers, raising questions about whether their success was a one-off or the start of a new era of contention. Hearing from respected former players like Gronkowski and Edelman provides valuable insight into the team's trajectory and the factors that could lead to their continued competitiveness.

The details

Despite facing an easy regular season schedule and a relatively weak playoff field, the Patriots made an unexpected run to the Super Bowl in 2025 led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye. While they ultimately lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the big game, Gronkowski and Edelman believe the team is just getting started and will be a consistent playoff contender going forward.

  • The Patriots went 14-3 and reached the Super Bowl in the 2025 season.
  • The Patriots' Super Bowl appearance came in February 2026.

The players

Rob Gronkowski

A former tight end who played for the Patriots and is now a Fox Sports analyst.

Julian Edelman

A former wide receiver who played his entire career with the Patriots.

Drake Maye

The Patriots' second-year starting quarterback in 2025.

Jarrett Stidham

The quarterback the Patriots faced in the playoffs, rather than the more highly-touted Bo Nix.

Bill Belichick

The Patriots' head coach who has led the team to multiple Super Bowl titles.

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What they’re saying

“What the New England Patriots did this season was incredible. And they're just going to keep on building on that from here on and going into next year, I'm sure they're going to be making the playoffs on a consistent basis now.”

— Rob Gronkowski, Former Patriots Tight End

“Anytime you got a head coach, a quarterback, an owner, and a GM working together and unison, it seems like every free agent they signed had a big moment, big role on the team. There was a lot of great things that happened.”

— Julian Edelman, Former Patriots Wide Receiver

What’s next

The Patriots will look to build on their surprise 2025 season and establish themselves as consistent contenders in the AFC in the coming years.

The takeaway

The Patriots' unexpected return to the Super Bowl has their former stars believing the team has the foundation in place to compete at a high level for the foreseeable future, despite facing questions about the sustainability of their 2025 success.