New England Patriots
“Hopefully I am that last piece to make this the highest secondary within the league.”
FOXBOROUGH — Kevin Byard noticed it coming.
Expectations may need been low for the 2025 Patriots getting into final summer season, particularly coming off a disastrous four-win season the earlier yr.
However the veteran security — then a member of the Chicago Bears — had loads of cause to consider in New England’s odds in orchestrating a breakthrough yr.
Not due to Drake Maye’s potential. Not due to a lighter schedule, nor New England’s free-agent spending spree.
Somewhat, it was due to the coach calling the pictures, Mike Vrabel.
Byard — who performed for Vrabel for six seasons in Tennessee — was nicely conscious of what his former coach was able to, particularly inside a corporation in want of a tradition reset.
“It’s all the time been team-first, and to see him from then, clearly, to all of the video games and all of the issues that we achieved [in Tennessee,] to see him right here final yr, to have the ability to make all of it the way in which to the Tremendous Bowl, like I used to be telling individuals Chicago,” Byard mentioned. “I used to be actually telling individuals throughout coaching camp like, ‘Be careful for New England. I’m telling you, he’s gonna get these boys circled, and so they’re gonna have success.’ So none of that is stunning.”
When the time got here for Byard to weigh his choices this offseason, the 32-year-old defensive again solely wished to play for 2 groups.
The Bears — the workforce that Byard performed for over the previous two years — provided loads of familiarity, particularly coming off an 11-win season.
However when the possibility to reunite with Vrabel was placed on the desk, Byard couldn’t resist.
Contemporary off the third First Workforce All-Professional nod of his standout profession, Byard signed a one-year, $9 million contract with New England this week — giving the Patriots a confirmed ball-hawk and veteran chief on an already ascending roster.
“Clearly, if I wasn’t gonna be again in Chicago, this was my high vacation spot to go to,” Byard mentioned Thursday at Gillette Stadium. “Not essentially simply due to the connection I’ve received with Vrabes… I feel the tradition of this workforce, this group, clearly, a profitable tradition.
“I feel the items that they’ve in place, with the quarterback, the secondary, and all these issues, I feel it makes it very enticing to any free agent to wish to come right here. I feel it was a reasonably straightforward resolution.”
Byard ought to give New England’s stout protection one other sizable increase. He’ll flip 33 years previous earlier than the beginning of the 2026 season, however Byard has by no means missed a sport on account of damage in his total 10-year NFL profession.
He led the NFL with seven interceptions final season, and leads all lively gamers within the league with 36 interceptions in his profession.
Byard’s breakout season got here in his second season with the Titans — going from a promising rookie to a First Workforce All-Professional stalwart who paced your complete league in takeaways (eight interceptions, two fumble recoveries). Fittingly, that was additionally Vrabel’s first yr on the job with the Titans.
”He is aware of the best way to get it completed,” Byard mentioned of Vrabel. “He is aware of what it takes. He is aware of what it appears like. So it’s very straightforward to purchase into that side. However then it’s simply being a pacesetter, but in addition being very personable. I feel he does a fantastic job of making an attempt to have relationships with all people, your loved ones, he is aware of your children’ names and stuff like that.
“As a result of I feel personally, simply being a coach, it’s simpler to get extra out of a participant when a participant is aware of that you simply truly care about them. … It’s a enterprise, however on the similar time, this can be a human enterprise. And I feel when you possibly can develop a relationship with someone on a private degree, it’s very straightforward to carry them accountable and to attempt to get extra out of them. So I feel he does a fantastic job of doing these issues.”
Byard additional reinforces an already stout secondary in New England, the place he’ll slot in alongside Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, and fellow security Craig Woodson, who impressed as a rookie final season.
Byard has achieved lots over his 10 years within the NFL. Now in New England, he’s seeking to verify off a purpose that has eluded him up to now — orchestrating a Tremendous Bowl run.
“He performed his behind off within the Tremendous Bowl,” Byard mentioned of Woodson and New England’s secondary. “So I’m excited to play with him and attempt to give him as a lot as I can so far as data of the sport. Like I mentioned, simply do what I can to attempt to assist this workforce and protection. Hopefully I’m that last piece to make this the highest secondary within the league.”
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