From 4-13 to the Super Bowl: How Robert Spillane and K’Lavon Chaisson Became the Heart of the Patriots’ Defense
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - A year ago, Robert Spillane was grinding through a 4-13 season with the Raiders. Now?
He’s a captain on a Patriots team preparing for the Super Bowl. That kind of leap doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s the product of grit, belief, and a head coach who saw something in him that others might’ve missed.
“Every one of us has a journey in this league,” Spillane said this week. “Every one of us has overcome adversity.”
Spillane’s journey is the kind that resonates in locker rooms across the NFL - a player who’s been waived, overlooked, and doubted, now anchoring the middle of one of the most opportunistic defenses in football. And in a twist of poetic symmetry, he’s doing it under Mike Vrabel - the same guy who once cut him as a rookie in Tennessee, and now brought him in to lead his defense in New England.
Vrabel’s Vision: A Familiar Prototype
When Vrabel took over in Foxborough, one of his first moves was to target Spillane in free agency. It wasn’t just about need - it was personal.
Spillane reminded Vrabel of himself during his own playing days: tough, smart, and relentless. The kind of guy who might not wow you at the combine but will punch you in the mouth on third-and-short.
Spillane’s journey began as an undrafted rookie out of Western Michigan in 2018. He was waived by the Titans, then twice by the Steelers, before finally sticking.
In Las Vegas, he found his footing - and his voice - under linebackers coach (and later head coach) Antonio Pierce. That’s where he learned how to cover as well as he could hit, rounding out his game into something more complete.
And toughness? That’s never been in question.
In 2023, he broke his hand during a game, kept playing, had surgery, and then suited up the following week. That’s who he is.
Now, he’s on the sport’s biggest stage.
“I’ve been putting water in that cup for years,” Spillane said. “And it feels like it’s time to drink that cup of water and really enjoy this moment.”
A Shared Path with K’Lavon Chaisson
Spillane isn’t the only former Raider making waves for New England. K’Lavon Chaisson - once a first-round pick by the Jaguars - is playing the best football of his career.
And it’s no coincidence. Spillane helped recruit him to Foxborough, texting him constantly after he signed.
Now, they’re two of the most disruptive defenders on a team that’s peaking at the right time.
“Rob and I definitely remind each other where we were a year ago, all the time,” Chaisson said. “That’s the beauty of this game, man. Your life can change within a year.”
Chaisson has been a revelation. After flashing late in the season with the Raiders - four sacks in his final six games - he’s turned it up another notch in the playoffs.
He finished the regular season with 7.5 sacks and has added three more in the postseason. According to NextGen Stats, he’s second in the league in quarterback pressures this postseason with 14.
That kind of production, especially for a $3 million one-year deal, is a steal.
And it’s not just the pass rush. Chaisson’s versatility - contributing on special teams, bringing energy to the locker room - has made him a perfect fit in Vrabel’s system.
“His motor runs hot,” Vrabel said.
The Vrabel Effect
Talk to anyone in the Patriots’ locker room, and you’ll hear the same thing: Vrabel’s authenticity is what sets him apart. He’s demanding, yes, but he’s clear. Players know what’s expected, and that clarity breeds confidence.
“He does a great job being authentic, bringing energy every day, setting clear intentions for us as a team and as individuals,” Spillane said. “When you know what is expected, you can apply all your energy and focus to that particular area. And his confidence rubs off on all of us.”
Chaisson echoed that sentiment. Vrabel’s consistency and belief in his players have helped reshape a roster that won just four games last season into a team that believes it belongs on football’s biggest stage.
“We all just have that hungry mindset,” Chaisson said. “As underdogs, we’ll continue to go out here and prove that we’re right where we belong. Everything that we’ve got is everything that we need.”
A Defense With Something to Prove
Before the AFC Championship, the talk was all about Denver’s defense. This week, it’s Seattle’s.
But don’t expect the Patriots’ front seven to be intimidated. They’ve heard the noise - and they’re ready to silence it.
“We’ll see … when we look up, and the scoreboard has 0:00 on it,” Chaisson said.
Spillane, meanwhile, is pushing through an ankle injury suffered in the AFC title game. He’s been running and cutting in practice, and all signs point to him suiting up. He doesn’t want to miss this opportunity - not with Chaisson by his side, not after the road they’ve both traveled.
And for the players watching from home - the ones grinding through tough seasons, wondering if their time will ever come - Spillane has a message.
“Just keep your head down,” he said. “Continue to work and embrace the process and the journey, and everything else will pan out.”
On Sunday, he’ll take the field not just as a linebacker, but as a symbol of what’s possible in this league - for those who keep fighting, keep believing, and never stop chasing the dream.