How did the NFL’s most dominant dynasty become one of its biggest disappointments? The New England Patriots, once a team known for their steady success, are now facing failure season after season, similar to the New York Jets, who have struggled for years. After arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady, left in 2020, the Patriots have had a losing record and have gone through three different coaches.
For 20 years, the Patriots were a powerhouse, drawing comparisons to the Empire in Star Wars by winning six Super Bowls, with Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick being the faces of the franchise. Ever since Brady’s departure, the team has not experienced success, with a record of 29 wins and 38 losses and four different offensive coordinators in four years. This situation has reminded fans of the Jets, who have had their own issues and have not made the playoffs in 14 years. The Patriots have desperately looked for new solutions in the post-Belichick and Brady era, hiring multiple head coaches and drafting two quarterbacks in the first round, which has not worked out yet.
Over the past five years, fans and analysts have started to question the Patriots’ recent decisions and whether they have the ability to rebuild into a winning team. Former Patriots player Rob Ninkovich, who won two Super Bowls with the team and is now a sports analyst, shared his thoughts on the team’s struggles: “The Patriots built a dynasty on discipline and consistency, but now it feels like they are searching for an identity,” Ninkovich said.
Others believe that New England’s problems stem from poor draft picks like N’Keal Harry and Mac Jones, as well as ineffective coaching changes, such as when they transitioned from Bill Belichick to new head coach Jerod Mayo. Since Brady’s departure, the team has struggled to find a reliable quarterback. “You can’t win in this league without stability at the quarterback position,” former NFL coach Rex Ryan said. “The Patriots are proof of that.”
Despite their struggles, Patriots owner Robert Kraft has expressed optimism about the team’s future. He acknowledged the team’s recent failures but assured fans that changes will be made and encouraged them to believe in the two franchise cornerstones: Pro Bowler Drake Maye and Second Team All-Pro Christian Gonzalez. “We know this is not the standard we’ve set for this franchise,” Kraft said. “We are committed to getting back to winning football.”
