New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Monday that he felt the team “overachieved” during the 2025 NFL season and given the group’s “tough schedule” for 2026, his “objective” was for the AFC champions to make the playoffs.
Head coach Mike Vrabel discussed Kraft’s comments on Tuesday at the NFL’s Annual Meeting and said he spoke with the 84-year-old about it.
The AP Coach of the Year said he had a slightly higher goal for New England.
“Championships will remain the goal. It will never change,” Vrabel said, according to MassLive’s Karen Guregian. “I appreciate Robert’s support. We want to win the division, we want to host playoff games, and we want to compete for championships.”
Following their 14-win regular season and Super Bowl LX appearance, the Patriots had a busy March.
New England has added players such as defensive end/linebacker Dre’Mont Jones, Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard and wide receiver Romeo Doubs in free agency.
The Patriots continue to be linked heavily to Philadelphia Eagles star wideout A.J. Brown in trade rumors as well.
NFL experts have cautioned fans that a regression could be coming though and oddsmakers don’t like New England’s chances to repeat as AFC East champions.
“We got a taste of (competing for championships.) We saw what that looked like. We saw the environment that it created. To be able to play those playoff games at home, which was unbelievable and so much fun. I just watch the reactions and I watch the videos because that’s the part that I really didn’t get to appreciate coaching the game, is seeing the fan videos, the videos from the fans and that perspective,” Vrabel said, per Guregian. “We’ll play whoever we have to play. We understand what this looks like. We’re going to play the division winner schedule and that’s how it goes.”
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