Anfernee Jennings is stepping into the spotlight at just the right time for the New England Patriots - and not just because he’s logging more snaps. The outside linebacker played a season-high 42 defensive snaps in last week’s 28-16 playoff win over the Houston Texans, and with the AFC Championship Game on deck against the Denver Broncos, he’s poised for an even bigger role. This time, he’ll take the field as a team captain.
Jennings, the former Alabama standout and Dadeville High School product, has steadily earned his place in the Patriots' defensive rotation. But circumstances have accelerated his rise.
Harold Landry, New England’s high-profile offseason addition, had been a mainstay on the edge, playing 75 percent of the team’s defensive snaps during the regular season. A nagging knee injury, however, has limited Landry’s availability over the past few weeks - and now, he’s officially ruled out for Sunday’s matchup in Denver.
That opens the door for Jennings to start for the second straight week - and this time, with even more on his plate. He made just three starts during the regular season but has come alive in the playoffs.
He notched a sack in the Patriots’ Wild Card win over the Chargers, then followed it up with another sack and five total tackles against the Texans. His physicality and motor have stood out - not just to fans, but to head coach Mike Vrabel.
“He’s going to be a game captain, and that’s deservedly so,” Vrabel said Friday. “The professionalism he’s shown throughout this entire season - I appreciate it.
He’s taken advantage of his opportunities, played physical, contributed on special teams, found his role. That was an easy pick for me this week.”
It’s a meaningful moment for Jennings, who’s had to adapt his role over the past two seasons. After starting all 16 games in 2024, he saw his defensive snap count drop by over 500 in 2025.
But instead of fading into the background, he leaned into special teams and stayed ready. That mindset - staying prepared, staying physical - is now paying off.
“It meant a lot,” Jennings said of being named captain. “Just having the opportunity to represent the team - we’re all working together to go out there and get a win on Sunday and bring it back here.”
Vrabel had a little fun with the announcement, too. During a team meeting, he played some high school highlight clips - a tradition, apparently - but this time, the tape featured Jennings back in his Dadeville days.
The twist? It wasn’t a linebacker highlight.
It was Jennings lining up at wildcat quarterback and throwing a touchdown.
“He usually puts up high school highlights,” Jennings said with a smile. “Today he just randomly put some up, and it was mine.
He kind of let the players figure it out. I already knew, obviously, but the other guys didn’t.
I think he pulled one where I was at wildcat quarterback and threw a touchdown, and everybody was like, ‘Who is that?’ Then they saw it was me.
So it was dope.”
The Patriots and Broncos will square off Sunday at 2 p.m. CST at Empower Field at Mile High, with a trip to Super Bowl LX on the line.
CBS will carry the broadcast. On the other side of the bracket, the NFC Championship will see the Rams visit the Seahawks at 5:30 p.m.
CST, with FOX handling the coverage.
For Jennings, this playoff run marks his first postseason action since being drafted by New England in the third round back in 2020. And now, with the defense counting on him more than ever, he’s focused on keeping things simple and sticking to the formula that got the Patriots this far.
“We just got to do a good job of communicating,” Jennings said. “Go out there, play fast, stay on the same page. Not switching up our macaroni - just do what we do.”
In a season that’s demanded adaptability and grit, Jennings is delivering both - and doing it on the biggest stage yet.