Cory Durden’s Revenge Game: Patriots DT Makes His Mark Against Former Team
Sometimes, a regular season game carries just a little more weight - not because of playoff implications or primetime lights, but because it's personal. For Patriots defensive tackle Cory Durden, Monday night against the New York Giants wasn’t just another game.
It was a chance to make a statement to the team that let him go. And he did just that - loudly, emotionally, and effectively.
Late in the first quarter, with the Patriots already up 17-0, Durden was caught on a hot mic letting his former teammates know exactly where things stood. It wasn’t just talk - it was the kind of fired-up, edge-of-your-shoulder-pad energy that doesn’t fade after the whistle. Durden played with purpose all night, and it showed.
Let’s rewind for a second. Durden, 26, was waived by the Giants ahead of final roster cuts earlier this year. Three months later, he was back on the field - this time in a Patriots uniform, staring down the very team that told him he wasn’t good enough.
“Cory Durden’s been playing a lot for us,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said after the game. “They let him go.
And that game meant a lot to him. They told him he wasn’t good enough to play for the Giants, and we thought he was good enough to play for the Patriots.”
That belief is paying off. Durden’s journey hasn’t been a straight line.
An undrafted free agent out of NC State, he started his NFL career with the Detroit Lions in 2023. He had a brief stint with the Rams before landing with the Giants late in the 2024 season.
He saw the field in four games, notching 10 tackles and earning a shot to compete for a spot during the 2025 offseason.
But when final cuts rolled around, the Giants moved on. Two days later, the Patriots added him to their practice squad - and from there, things started to click.
Durden earned a promotion to the active roster ahead of the season opener against the Raiders. Since then, he’s carved out a solid role in New England’s defensive line rotation.
He’s played in all 13 games so far, logging 245 defensive snaps - good for just over 31% of the team’s total - and tallying 17 tackles. Two of those came against the Giants in a 33-15 win that had to feel a little sweeter for No.
“I’m happy for him,” Vrabel added. “Made some plays and continues to help us but also help himself. And I love that.”
This wasn’t just a revenge game. It was a reminder that the NFL is full of second chances - and sometimes, all a player needs is the right fit and the right moment. For Cory Durden, both came together under the Monday night lights.