In just a few short weeks, the Patriots will be back in Foxborough for voluntary OTAs the same week of the NFL Draft.
With the Super Bowl run, this condensed offseason has came up quick, but we’re almost to the point where it’s time to start talking about expectations for 2026.
On Monday in Arizona at the annual NFL owners meetings, Robert Kraft spoke with the media as he usually does. During the mini scrum, Kraft was asked about a number of topics ranging from an 18-game schedule, to contract negotiations for Christian Gonzalez, to last year’s incredible season.
Here’s everything he had to say:
On if he’s more relieved or elated about the run the team went on in 2025, given how rough the last few years were
“Well, last season was great. You know, I’m newly married and my wife couldn’t believe the difference of winning the way we did last year and how it changed the whole week, and she let Mike Vrabel know that and it was an incentive, an extra incentive for him to know. But, in all seriousness, I think actually, the team way overachieved what any of us thought would happen and it was wonderful. And winning that championship game in Denver when we have such a past history of difficulty winning in Denver was very special. So proud of this team and most of them are still young.”
On what he believes would represent a successful season in 2026
“We have a pretty tough schedule, I think the hardest schedule, a lot of west coast travel. You know, my objective every year is we make the playoffs. And, as we saw last year, when you’re privileged to make the playoffs, anything can happen.”
On the new facility opening up and his first impressions of it
“Oh, the training center, I think it’s very special and I think it’ll give our coaching staff and players reasons to celebrate the efficiency and what can go on there. It’s right on the field. I’ll be very interested to get the reaction of all of you experts in the media when you see it and how it compares to what our competition have. I think it’s one of a kind.”
On if there’s a ‘mindset’ when it comes to contracts for guys like Christian Gonzalez, Drake Maye & if there’s a philosophy when it comes to doing extensions
“Well, we always try…we have a salary cap, so we have a limit, so we have to think what’s best for the team in terms of timing of the signing. Of course, the earlier you do it, it’s believed it’s more economically satisfactory. But, we leave that to Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf and our people taking care of contract decisions. We’re lucky to have those two players and I hope and believe they’ll be with us for the long term.”
On the idea of an 18-game season
“Well, I like it long term for the growth and development of the league because, to keep our league healthy and grow revenue, I think preseason games have not been what it used to be when we owned the team. And changing to 18 games and having that real content and being mindful of player safety, I’d personally like to see us have a second bye week. But then, it would allow us to also grow the game internationally. Every team in the league would play a game overseas and it just…I think would be a lot more exciting for the fans to have an extra game rather than the way our preseason games stack up.”