FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 18: Carlton Davis III #7 of the New England Patriots intercepts the football during the first half of an AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on January18, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) Getty Images

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Carlton Davis III remembers when Tom Brady arrived in Tampa Bay.

Davis, now a Patriots cornerback, was 23, just coming off of his second season in the NFL for the Buccaneers, who had finished the 2019 season 7-9. They weren’t awful, but nothing about them suggested a championship was in their future.

But even before he ever played a game, Brady changed the Buccaneers. With his six rings and three MVPs, Brady raised expectations. And not just among the elated fan base.

“When he first came to Tampa, he immediately brought the belief that we could do it,” Davis said.

And they did. The Buccaneers earned a playoff spot as a wild card at 11-5, but they rolled through the playoffs to earn Brady’s seventh Super Bowl ring and Davis’ first.

Signing a free agent cornerback isn’t the same as signing a quarterback, obviously, and nobody brings the cachet of Brady.

But when Davis signed with New England, which was coming off back-to-back 4-13 seasons, he wanted to be part of making the Patriots a winner again. And as a veteran who’d won a Super Bowl, he hoped to help make his younger teammates believe in what they could become.

“Having guys that did it before and did it at a high level automatically brings belief and confidence. It can spread. We can help give them tips and pointers,” Davis said. “Everywhere I’ve gone I’ve been a part of winning. I’m glad to do it here with guys that are alike and have the same mindset. Really thankful for that.”

His history of winning now includes helping to lead the Patriots to Santa Clara for Sunday’s Super Bowl. It’s obviously not just Davis. No newcomer on the roster has more respect in the locker room than defensive lineman Milton Williams, who won a Super Bowl last year with the Eagles. The Patriots rebuilt their roster with culture in mind.

“They did a great job of bringing in the right people,” Davis said. “The coaching staff and the right free agents. Every free agent that we got came with leadership. Came with experience. The (expletive) that you need to win a championship.”

New England rookie safety Craig Woodson is an eager listener.

“He’s been in the game a long time,” he said. “He’s seen a lot of ball. He knows what it takes to win.”

Marcus Jones agreed.

“He’s the OG of the group,” he said. “He’s had more snaps and more games. Having a mentor like that is very important.”

Because of his association with Brady, Davis was naturally asked to compare him to the Patriots’ budding star at quarterback.

“Drake Maye is that guy. He’s a competitor. He’s so natural. You can just feel it on him. He’s just being himself. He’s trying to be the best version of himself,” he said. “Tom was obviously the greatest quarterback, but you can tell that Drake wants to take a lane of his own and create his own legacy.”

But Davis’ fond memory of his Brady experience has added meaning to being part of the Patriots’ resurgence.

“To be able to come to his old stomping grounds, a place that has so much history and so many legendary moments through the years,“ he said. ”To be able to bring them back to where they once were in the glory days has been amazing for me. I’m just thankful and grateful for it all.”