Coming off back-to-back 4-13 seasons, Kraft expects his team to rebound.
Having won just eight combined games, the New England Patriots have been one of the least successful teams in the NFL over the last two seasons.
For Robert Kraft, who saw the franchise win six Super Bowls between 2001 and 2018, that stretch marked the low point of his three decades of ownership. And yet, the 84-year-old is not afraid to voice his optimism heading into the 2025 season.
“Any Patriots fans out there, I can tell you I’m very excited about this upcoming season,” Kraft told ESPN’s Adam Schefter at Fanatics Fest in New York City.
“The last two years were the worst years of my 31 years of ownership. We have to change that. We have a new coach in Mike Vrabel, who is really connected with the players, who’s doing great work. We have a young quarterback, a lot of great veterans, free agent veterans who came in, a great draft class.”
The Patriots’ offseason has been one of change. Besides hiring Mike Vrabel to replace one-and-done head coach Jerod Mayo, the team also rebuilt the rest of its coaching staff as well as parts of its front office and scouting department, and large portions of the roster.
As part of that process, the book on the organization’s dynastic run was officially closed; the release of longtime long snapper and team captain Joe Cardona after the NFL Draft marked the departure of the last Patriots Super Bowl champion from the team. From that perspective, it is a new era in Foxborough — and one Kraft has high expectations for.
“We’ve owned the team 31 years, we’ve had 27 home playoff games, and we’ve been privileged to win 23,” he said. “I want that record to keep going.”
Whether the Patriots will be able to do that in the near future after back-to-back 4-13 campaigns remains to be seen. Ever the fan, however, Kraft is hopeful that his team will at least be more competitive than it was under Mayo and toward the tail end of Bill Belichick’s tenure as head coach.
“We’re going to have fun this year,” he proclaimed. “I promise.”