The Patriots’ new head coach expressed support for the veteran running back.
The New England Patriots had high hopes for Rhamondre Stevenson in 2024. After signing him to a four-year, $36 million contract extension in the offseason, they expected the fourth-year running back to become the catalyst behind their offense.
That never happened. While Stevenson did end the season as the Patriots’ leader in combined carries and receptions (240), scrimmage yards (969) and touchdowns (8), he also registered a career-low 4.0 yards per touch. The biggest problem, however, was his inability to hold onto the football.
Stevenson fumbled the ball seven times over the course of the season, equaling the number of fumbles he had in the first three years of his career combined.
Heading toward 2025, ball security is an obvious concern for Stevenson and the team under new head coach Mike Vrabel. However, speaking at the Scouting Combine on Tuesday, Vrabel pointed out that the issue is more complex than just him putting the ball on the ground.
“We can look back and say, ‘Yeah, Rhamondre had some issues holding on to the football that year.’ But we also didn’t finish two or three blocks on the backside that allowed the second guy to come in as he’s trying to make somebody miss, or he’s trying to stiff-arm somebody,” Vrabel explained during an appearance on Sirius XM NFL Radio.
“We’ve got somebody that’s not protecting the guy with the ball. It’s my job to one, show them and explain to them that, ‘Yeah, Rhamondre has a job.’ He understands that, and we’ve talked to him about that. But we also have an obligation for the rest of the guys to protect the guy who has the ball.”
The supporting cast around Stevenson was one of the worst in the NFL in 2024, resulting in the Patriots ranking near the bottom of the league in most major statistical categories. As Vrabel pointed out, improving in that area is as much on the team’s mind as making sure the 27-year-old himself bounces back from what was a challenging season.
“Whether that’s Drake [Maye], Rhamondre, Kayshon [Boutte], Ja’Lynn [Polk], Hunter [Henry], or whoever we throw it to,” Vrabel said, “everybody else has still got a job.”