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The New England Patriots were supposed to be “middle,” as Rob Gronkowski told Pakinomist Digital, but instead they looked like yesterday’s Pats.
New England stunned the football world with a 14-3 record and went all the way to the Super Bowl, led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Of course, New England may have benefited from an easy schedule in the regular season, and in the playoffs they faced Jarrett Stidham instead of Bo Nix. The Super Bowl wasn’t pretty when they got beat up by the Seattle Seahawks.
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New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman raises his hands in celebration with tight end Rob Gronkowski after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Danny Amendola during the third quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game at Gillette Stadium, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
But Gronkowski and one of his former teammates don’t believe the 2025 passes were any kind of fluke.
“What the New England Patriots did this season was incredible. And they’re just going to keep building on it from here and going into next year, I’m sure they’re going to make the playoffs on a consistent basis now,” Gronk told Pakinomist Digital. “That’s the expectation. They got the quarterback, they got the coach, they got the ownership, they got the foundation now, and you’re going to see them compete at a high level every single year now, which is great for Patriot fans.”
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) warms up prior to the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Patriots have simply built the next generation of success, and Gronkowski sees the same in Infiniti and their newly released QX65. Gronk and Julian Edelman were on hand at Grand Central Terminal in New York for the unveiling.
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“I’ve always been about showing up for big moments and putting in the work behind the scenes, and that’s what stood out to me with Infiniti. They’re really conscious of how they’re going to move forward and what they’re building next. That’s how you have to be as a football player, as an athlete, you have to be very conscious and be able to compete and stay on top and be able to be on top. what Infiniti is doing.”
“I was fortunate enough in my career to play in a lot of big moments, and that’s exactly what you see with Infiniti,” Edelman added. “How they’re so detailed and have a purpose in everything they do. When you look at the design of the car, the back, the interior is spacious, very detailed. I mean, it’s just something that’s been so cool. It’s been a fun experience.”
Edelman is also “very confident” the new Pats are here to stay.
“Anytime you get a head coach, a quarterback, an owner and a GM working together and in unison, it seems like every free agent they’ve signed has had a big moment, a big role on the team. A lot of great things happened.”
Edelman cautioned Patriots fans to temper expectations a bit and not expect another 14-win season. However, he expects a more reliable product on the field.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye celebrates with the AFC championship trophy after the AFC championship game between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots in Denver, Colorado on Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
“it’s assignment time. You know, assignment time with the quarterback. Get him ready with the offensive line, get the offensive line right and get them working together more. I mean, they’re a young group. So I’m really excited for the Patriots this year,” he said.
“I think they’re real. They might go out and not have as many wins, but I think they’ll be a better football team this year.”
