Patriots' Legends Confident Team's Super Bowl Appearance Was No Fluke

Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman believe the New England Patriots are poised for continued success after their surprise 2025 season.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented, overlapping images of a Patriots football game, with sharp planes of navy blue, red, and silver colors representing the team's uniforms and equipment.The Patriots' surprise Super Bowl run in 2025 has the team's legends believing the franchise has reclaimed its championship pedigree.NYC Today

The New England Patriots exceeded expectations in 2025, making a surprise Super Bowl appearance led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye. While they ultimately lost to the Seattle Seahawks, Patriots legends Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman are confident the team's success was no fluke and that they are positioned for continued competitiveness in the coming years.

Why it matters

The Patriots' unexpected 2025 season defied predictions and reignited hope for the franchise's future after several down years. Gronkowski and Edelman's endorsement of the team's trajectory carries weight with fans and provides optimism that the Patriots have rebuilt a sustainable contender.

The details

Despite facing an easy regular season schedule and benefiting from injuries to opposing quarterbacks, the Patriots' 14-3 record and Super Bowl berth surprised many analysts who had written them off. Gronkowski and Edelman, both former Patriots stars, believe the team has the right pieces in place with the coach, quarterback, ownership, and overall foundation to compete at a high level consistently going forward.

  • The Patriots made a surprise Super Bowl appearance in the 2025 season.
  • Gronkowski and Edelman spoke about the Patriots' future at the unveiling of Infiniti's new QX65 SUV in New York City in March 2026.

The players

Rob Gronkowski

A former tight end for the New England Patriots who played a key role in the team's dynasty in the 2010s.

Julian Edelman

A former wide receiver for the New England Patriots who was a reliable target for Tom Brady and helped the team win multiple Super Bowls.

Drake Maye

The Patriots' second-year starting quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl in the 2025 season.

Jarrett Stidham

The quarterback the Patriots faced in the playoffs, filling in for the injured Bo Nix.

Bo Nix

The starting quarterback the Patriots were expected to face in the playoffs, but he was injured.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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 continue their resurgence in 2026, with fans and experts eager to see if they can sustain their success.

The takeaway

The Patriots' unexpected return to prominence in 2025 has reignited hope in New England, with the team's legendary players expressing confidence that the franchise has the right pieces in place to compete at a high level for years to come.