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The New England Patriots are back.
There was a glimmer of hope in the post-Tom Brady era when rookie Mac Jones led the Pats to the playoffs, but ultimately he fizzled out and dark times followed in Foxborough.
However, Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel have come to the rescue.
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New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte reacts after running for a touchdown in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. (Matthew Hinton/Imagn Images)
Kayshon Boutte is in his third season with New England, and he’s seen it all. He’s had as many head coaches as he’s had seasons in the league (Bill Belichick, Jerod Mayo, Vrabel). In fact, Boutte has had six offensive coordinators since college, so the coaching changes in New England were no more than par for the course for him.
But now it looks like he will finally have some continuity.
“Last year wasn’t how we wanted it to be, but just coming in and trusting everything he said and how he wants things done,” Boutte said in a recent interview with Pakinomist Digital about his current head coach. “He was a player at one point, so he’s a player’s coach in our eyes. He wants the best for us as players. Trusting everything he says, I think everybody’s done a great job with it and now we’re sitting where we are today.”
As for Maye, Boutte has seen plenty of growth from the second-year quarterback.
Kayshon Boutte of the New England Patriots makes sure he is onside during a game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 21, 2025 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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“We had a little bit of success last year, but based on last season compared to this season, he moves around the pocket a lot more, finds open receivers, always reads defenses well, trusts his receivers to make plays. That’s a big thing for quarterbacks — confidence. Every time he throws the ball to you, catch it and it builds his confidence and just lets us take another step together. Next level.”
The success on the field has also helped Boutte spread his name off it. Yes, his name is pronounced the way you think it might be, and yes, it was an easy joke to crack.
“I’ve heard a lot about it all my life,” he said.
But Boutte has the last laugh on both critics and himself with his new partnership with Charmin, which just released a month-long “Forever Roll.” Fully constructed, it is roughly the same number of feet as the Washington Monument.
“I think it was different for me, you know? It was a cool idea,” he said. “Charmin loves booty.” (Or Boutte?)
“The idea of everything is great. I love it. It’s fun to joke about. The Charmin forever roll is great. Something I’ve never had, a tissue roll that lasts a month. It’s a great thing.”
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte leaves the field after the game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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It’s a different era of Patriots football. The days of Brady and Belichick are over, and Boutte admitted he doesn’t want to dwell too much on the organization’s past, but rather focus on its present. And the present is pretty good.
Boutte’s Pats are 8-2 and on pace to not only make the playoffs, but earn a first-round bye. They’ll get a chance to keep it going Thursday night against the New York Jets.
“The season has been great, but it’s up to us to keep it going,” Boutte said. “As far as sustaining success, it’s about what we put in day in and day out. Sitting at 8-2, we have to improve throughout November and December to play in January.”
