From 4-13 to Super Bowl Contender: How the Patriots Engineered a Historic Turnaround in 2025
Let’s rewind to the start of the 2025 NFL season. The New England Patriots were fresh off a 4-13 campaign, tied for the fourth-worst record in the league. The post-Belichick era had begun with more questions than answers, and few believed this team was anywhere near contending for the AFC’s top seed, let alone a deep playoff run.
But a year later, the view from Foxborough looks a whole lot different. The Patriots didn’t just bounce back - they roared back, putting together one of the most dramatic single-season turnarounds in NFL history. They’re not just in the playoff mix; they’re in the Super Bowl conversation.
Let’s break down how New England flipped the script in 2025.
The Low Point: A Rocky 2024 Season
The 2024 season was always going to be transitional. With Bill Belichick stepping away after two decades at the helm, the Patriots handed the keys to Jerod Mayo - a former All-Pro linebacker and Belichick disciple. But leading from the sideline proved more difficult than Mayo may have anticipated.
He made a surprising call out of the gate, giving veteran Jacoby Brissett the starting job over rookie Drake Maye, despite Maye’s strong preseason. The Patriots opened with a win against the Bengals, but that momentum evaporated quickly.
Brissett struggled, failing to eclipse 170 passing yards in each of his first five starts. By Week 6, the team had dropped six straight.
That’s when Maye got his shot.
The rookie stepped in and, despite a loss to the Texans, showed flashes of exactly why he was a top draft pick - throwing for 243 yards, three touchdowns, and two picks. From that point on, the offense had a different energy. Maye started the rest of the season, and even with limited reps, he impressed enough to earn a Pro Bowl nod as an alternate for Josh Allen.
Still, the team’s overall performance lagged behind. The Patriots finished 4-13, and the roster simply didn’t have the depth to compete week in and week out. After the season finale, team owner Robert Kraft made the difficult decision to part ways with Mayo, citing a lack of progress.
Behind the scenes, reports surfaced of friction between Mayo and both the media and some players. His attempt at a player-friendly approach reportedly backfired after he publicly called the team “soft” - a comment he later walked back. There was also tension surrounding his handling of former offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.
Not everyone agreed with the move. Rob Gronkowski, never one to hold back, voiced his frustration with the decision, calling it unfair to judge a coach solely on his first year.
Enter Mike Vrabel: A Familiar Face Returns
The Patriots didn’t waste time finding their next leader. Just a week after Mayo’s dismissal, the team brought in another former linebacker with deep New England roots: Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel, who had spent the previous six seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, brought a no-nonsense style and a clear vision. He also brought belief - not just in the franchise, but in Drake Maye.
“I came here because of the familiarity. I came here because of Drake,” Vrabel said in November.
“I knew what he would be, and it was important for me to come here. That’s someone I wanted to coach.”
That belief paid off.
A Season to Remember: 14 Wins and a Division Crown
Under Vrabel’s leadership, the Patriots exploded for a 14-3 regular season record - their best finish since the Tom Brady era. It wasn’t just a bounce-back year; it was a full-blown revival.
Drake Maye didn’t just develop - he blossomed. The second-year quarterback looked every bit the franchise cornerstone, emerging as a legitimate MVP candidate. His poise, accuracy, and command of the offense gave New England fans a reason to believe they’ve found their next great signal-caller.
Vrabel, meanwhile, is firmly in the Coach of the Year conversation. He brought structure, accountability, and a toughness that resonated throughout the locker room. The Patriots weren’t just winning - they were dominating.
It’s worth noting that New England benefited from the league’s weakest strength of schedule (.391), but don’t let that take away from what this team accomplished. They played the games on their schedule and won more than almost anyone else. Their 14-win campaign ranks as the sixth-best regular season in franchise history.
And for the first time since Brady’s departure, the Patriots are once again AFC East champions.
A Historic Turnaround
The Patriots’ 10-win improvement ties the NFL record for the biggest single-season turnaround. Only two other teams in league history have pulled off that kind of leap: the 1999 Indianapolis Colts and the 2008 Miami Dolphins.
That Colts team was led by a second-year Peyton Manning, who went from leading the league in interceptions as a rookie to finishing second in MVP voting the following season. He had help - Edgerrin James led the league in rushing as a rookie, and Marvin Harrison was at the peak of his powers.
The result? A 13-3 record and a playoff berth, though they fell short in the divisional round.
Like that Colts team, these Patriots are powered by a young quarterback who’s taken a massive leap in Year 2. And like that Colts team, New England is hoping their story ends with more than just a great regular season.
Can the Patriots Finish the Job?
The 1999 Colts and 2008 Dolphins both saw their dream seasons end short of a championship. Now, the question becomes: can the Patriots break that trend?
They have the quarterback. They have the coach. They have the momentum.
And after a season that few saw coming, they’ve got a chance to do something truly special.
The Lombardi Trophy is within reach. Foxborough believes again.