Super Bowl 53: Which New England Patriots might retire?

Several prominent members of the New England Patriots are openly addressing rumors of their imminent NFL retirement prior to Super Bowl 53.

Every year that passes, more and more media coverage surrounding the Patriots seems to focus on whether or not the infrastructure within the team will change. After all, it’s exceedingly rare to find an NFL franchise with the kind of long-term stability and consistency New England routinely enjoys.

Consider: Bill Belichick was hired by team owner Robert Kraft all the way back in 2000. He is now the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach, as well as the second-longest-tenured head coach in all four major American sports leagues (behind the NBA’s Gregg Popovich). For comparison, since Belichick was hired in New England, the Cleveland Browns have cycled through 10 different head coaches.

At quarterback, Tom Brady has been starting games for the Patriots since 2001. In that time since he took over for an injured Drew Bledsoe, 28 different quarterbacks — 28!!! — have taken regular season snaps at QB for the Cleveland Browns.

This is meant to be less of an indictment on the Browns’ dysfunction and futility over the past two decades, and more of a glowing endorsement for the success and longevity bred under the culture of the Patriot Way.

Another Super Bowl title is well within grasp for Belichick, Brady, and the rest of the Patriots. Beat the Rams on Sunday in Super Bowl 53, and New England joins Pittsburgh in exalted air as the winningest championship franchises in NFL history.

But even if the Pats end up hoisting a record-tying sixth Lombardi Trophy, will the band all get back together in 2019? Rumors abound that at least one or two significant contributors on the team might ride off into the sunset after that final whistle. If that’s true, who should New England fans be worried about leaving?