Throughout the twenty years of the Patriots’ dynasty, we saw many phenomenal talents emerge from Gillette Stadium.
Although most of the bad signings by Bill Belichick during that time seem to overshadow all the good ones, there were a lot of significant contributors to the latter half of the dynasty’s success, including some under-the-radar names that didn’t receive as much recognition.
(and there may actually be 11 players listed instead of 10, but who’s counting?)
Danny Amendola – 2013
stats while on the Patriots
- Two-time Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI)
- New England Patriots All-2010s Team
- 69 regular season games – 230 rec, 2,383 yards, 12 TD, 1/1 passes for 36 yards
- 13 postseason games – 57 rec, 709 yards, 12.4 Y/R, 6 TD, 1/2 passes for 20 yards
It’s almost hard to imagine a Patriots team in the 2010s that didn’t have Danny Amendola on it, but he was with the Rams to start his career and didn’t sign with New England until the 2013 season.
Throughout his five years spent in Foxboro, Amendola earned the trust of Tom Brady and easily became one of his favorite targets. The duo of Amendola and Julian Edelman in the Patriots’ offense was always exciting to watch, even if they weren’t ever considered to be at the top of their position.
Who could forget the fantastic Edelman pass to Amendola’s touchdown against the Ravens in 2014?
He was a solid contributor during regular season games but came alive once the postseason began, which earned him the nickname “Danny Playoffs.” His reliability and consistency resulted in countless impressive performances in those extra games, especially in Super Bowl LI and the entire postseason run leading up to Super Bowl LII.
Darrelle Revis – 2014
stats while on the Patriots
- Super Bowl Champion (XLIX)
- First Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl selection
- 16 regular season games – 47 combined tackles, 2 TFL, 2 INT, 14 PD, FF, FR
- 3 postseason games – 3 combined tackles, TFL, QB hit, INT returned for 30 yards, 2 PD
One of the best signings probably ever, by any team in the league, has to be Bill Belichick swindling New York Jets’ great Darrelle Revis for the 2014 season.
After spending the first six years of his career with the AFC East rival, Revis was traded to the Buccaneers in 2013. Although it wasn’t necessarily his preferred destination, he still had an impressive year, but it apparently wasn’t enough for either Tampa or Revis himself.
The Bucs tried and failed to trade the cornerback, resulting in his release in March 2014. The Patriots swooped in and signed Revis the same day to a one-year contract, instantly making it one of the best decisions of the Belichick era.
He went on to be an integral part of the defense for the season, shutting down receivers every single week through his consistent lights-out style of play. And the sweetest part of it all? Revis finally got his Super Bowl ring.
Patrick Chung (re-signing) – 2014
stats while on the Patriots
- Three-time Super Bowl Champion (XLIX, LI, LIII)
- 141 regular season games – 719 combined tackles, 20 TFL, 12 QB hits, 11 INT returned for 171 yards, TD, 2 FF, 4 FR, 4.5 sacks
- 22 postseason games – 100 combined tackles, 3 TFL, 2 QB hits, 4 PD, FMB, FR
Maybe it’s cheating a little bit to include Patrick Chung on this list since the Patriots originally drafted him in 2009. But he did leave New England after the 2012 season, appearing like he didn’t fit within the defense anymore after Devin McCourty took over the starting safety position, and went on to sign a three-year deal with the Eagles during free agency.
His time in Philadelphia didn’t last long, though, having had a down year in performance and was later released in March of the following year.
Chung returned to the Patriots on a one-year deal and remained with the team until his retirement in 2021. Upon returning to Foxboro, he played better than he ever had. He carved out a role within the defense, showing off his versatility to be used anywhere on the field, and became a pillar in the secondary with McCourty and Duron Harmon.
His passion and leadership always shined through and were a staple within the Patriots’ locker room, and his intensity was a vital contributor to the three championships won during his tenure with the team.
LeGarrette Blount – 2014
stats while on the Patriots
- Two-time Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI)
- NFL rushing touchdowns leader in 2016
- 49 regular season games – 677 carries for 2,917 yards, 34 TD | 19 rec, 137 yards, TD
- 8 postseason games – 111 carries for 470 yards, 8 TD
Originally traded to the Patriots in 2013 from the Bucs, LeGarrette Blount left the team the following season to join the Steelers. It was a huge loss for New England’s offense. But if you believe in fate, things in Pittsburgh didn’t last long, allowing Belichick to bring back Blount on a two-year deal midseason in 2014.
Blount’s return couldn’t have happened at a better time, as the Patriots were currently in the midst of the second leg of their dynasty and on track to win another three Super Bowls.
In his first full season back in Foxboro in 2015, he immediately assimilated into the offense as if he had never been gone from the team, totaling 165 carries for 703 yards and six touchdowns. He set records in the playoffs with his performance against the Colts in the AFC Championship, totaling 30 rushes for 148 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the Patriots’ franchise leader in postseason rushing touchdowns with seven scores.
But the best was yet to come.
The 2016 season is, without a doubt, his most memorable due to his record-breaking performance. He finished the season with 299 carries for 1,161 yards and a league-high 18 touchdowns, making him the first player in franchise history to lead the league in scores.
Blount’s durability and unreal power on the ground became a staple of the Patriots’ offense in his return to the team. He was a significant part of many wins that helped the team further their chances at winning championship games, and it was hard to see him sign elsewhere in 2017.
Dion Lewis – 2015
stats while on the Patriots
- Super Bowl Champion (LI)
- 30 regular season games – 293 carries, 1,413 yards, 4.8 Y/A, 8 TD | 85 rec, 696 yards, 5 TD
- 6 postseason games – 58 carries, 214 yards, TD | 21 rec, 144 yards, TD
There aren’t many players in any league of any sport that can say their team is undefeated when they are playing, but Dion Lewis happens to be one of those who can.
His first season in New England didn’t go quite as planned, with Lewis tearing his ACL in November of that season, but he still was a major contributor to both the run and passing game before being placed on IR. He didn’t return to the field until a year later and ended the season with a similar stat line as the previous year.
Then came 2017, the year of Lewis in the Patriots’ backfield, totaling 180 carries for 896 yards and six touchdowns, plus 32 receptions for 214 yards and three touchdowns through 16 games. Considering he was competing with Rex Burkhead and James White during that time, his production was impressive.
He continued to display his skills on offense and special teams, making it difficult for the Patriots to not re-sign him in 2018. Although they ultimately chose to re-sign other running backs that free agency, Lewis’ performance in the short period he was in New England certainly earns him a spot on this list.
Chris Hogan – 2016
stats while on the Patriots
- Two-time Super Bowl Champion (LI and LIII)
- 40 regular season games – 107 rec, 1,651 yards, 15.4 Y/R, 12 TD
- 9 postseason games – 34 rec, 542 yards, 15.94 Y/R, 4 TD
How could the former lacrosse player be left off this list?
Chris Hogan started his professional football career with the Buffalo Bills in 2013 and remained there before moving on to New England. In 2017, as a restricted free agent, he signed a three-year offer sheet with the Patriots, with the Bills eventually declining to match it.
His time in New England started with a bang, setting the NFL record in 2016 for 17.9 yards per catch and making the Bills regret their decision to let him walk. His size and athleticism were quickly utilized within the offense and were a significant factor in the Patriots beating the Steelers for the AFC Championship title.
Hogan’s next two seasons were similar to the first, ending in the Super Bowl and getting one more ring. After his contract expired, he went on to play for three more teams before choosing to retire, but his prominent role with the Patriots will never be forgotten.
During a very successful stretch of the Patriots dynasty, Hogan was able to stand out amongst some other New England greats, Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, and Rob Gronkowski, all while consistently contributing when the team needed him most.
Stephon Gilmore – 2017
stats while on the Patriots
- Super Bowl Champion (LIII)
- Three-time Pro Bowl selection (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Two-time First-Team All-Pro (2018, 2019)
- Defensive Player of the Year (2019)
- New England Patriots All-2010s Team
- New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team
- 56 regular season games – 161 combined tackles, 11 INT returned for 200 yards, 2 TD, 52 PD, 3 FF, 2 FR
- 7 postseason games – 19 combined tackles, 2 INT, 11 PD, FF
As if snagging Darrelle Revis from the Jets wasn’t sweet enough, the Patriots struck gold again when they signed Stephon Gilmore in 2017 after he spent five years in Buffalo.
Bill Belichick shocked fans and the media when he reportedly offered Gilmore a five-year, $65-million contract, as most believe that was an overpay in general but especially for what many deemed to be an overrated player. Unfortunately, that initial reaction came back to haunt the doubters over the next four seasons, with Gilmore becoming the shutdown corner the Patriots had been missing since Revis left a few years prior.
His first season in New England was not the most extraordinary, but he became an essential piece of the team’s dominant defense the following two seasons, earning back-to-back First-Team All-Pro nods and Pro Bowl selections. On top of that, he won Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 for a season where he led the league in interceptions and passes defended.
Throughout all of the incredible performances, two of his most memorable moments will forever be embedded in Patriots fans’ minds; the final pass breakup in the AFC Championship against the Jaguars in January 2018 and his timely interception of Jared Goff of the Rams during Super Bowl LIII.
Unfortunately, Gilmore’s time in Foxboro didn’t end the way most would’ve liked, but his unforgettable performances over the years forever cement him in Patriots history.
Rex Burkhead – 2017
stats while on the Patriots
- Super Bowl Champion (LIII)
- 41 regular season games – 253 carries for 1,026 yards, 11 TD | 96 rec, 856 yards, 7 TD
- 6 postseason games – 30 carries for 123 yards, 3 TD | 11 rec, 123 yards
New England has had their fair share of hard-playing running backs over the years, and signing Rex Burkhead in 2017 after spending a quiet four years with the Bengals seemed like an experiment to most. However, he immediately made an impact when given a chance, on both the ground and in the passing game, which wound up earning him a three-year extension.
Through the next three seasons, Belichick cultivated all of the running backs’ skills and quickly put to shame his time in Cincinnati. He was exactly the dual threat that the Patriots were hoping for, especially to pair with their other versatile back James White, making it difficult for defenses to predict how they would use him on the field.
His production continued until suffering a season-ending injury in week 11 against the Texans in 2020, which eventually ended up being his last game with the Patriots.
Justin Bethel – 2019
stats when on the Patriots
- 42 regular season games, 2 postseason games – 26 combined tackles, PD, FF, 2 FR
It’s well-known how much Belichick values all phases of a football game, especially special teams, making the signing of three-time Pro Bowler Justin Bethel in 2019 all that more noteworthy.
The Patriots had their own ace on special teams in Matthew Slater, but being able to sign one of the best in the game was too difficult to pass up. Not to mention, his versatility and success as a cornerback also made him a Belichick-ian type of player that seemed inevitable to land with the Patriots.
Although his position is not one that can be compared easily with statistics, Bethel remained a premier special teamer during his three years in Foxboro. He brought stability to an essential aspect of the game and, despite his age, never showed any evidence of slowing down. As a result, he was a major factor in maintaining New England’s top special teams reign atop the league, even helping punt returner Gunner Olszewski get All-Pro nods in 2020, and he continues to impress (even now) on a new team.
Adrian Phillips – 2020
stats when on the Patriots
- 50 regular season games – 267 combined tackles, 13 TFL, 3 QB hits,
6 INT returned for 44 yards, TD, 16 PD, FF, sack
When Adrian Phillips signed in New England, the Patriots had a crowded cornerback group that needed help with additional safeties. Upon his arrival, he was just the fourth in the position to be on the team, bringing a much-needed veteran presence that would become much more vital in the years to come.
Like Bethel, Phillips is also a multi-dimensional player with experience as a defensive back and on special teams, even leading the league in special teams tackles for the 2018 season. Additionally, his signing came on the heels of losing long-time Patriots Duron Harmon and Nate Ebner, creating a massive opportunity for him to make an immediate impact.
His athleticism and skillset prove invaluable for the secondary, as he’s consistently impressive defending pass-catchers one-on-one each and every week. Throughout games, Phillips is seen all over the field and has proven to be one of the most reliable members of the roster, not missing a single game since arriving in New England.
Matthew Judon – 2021
stats while on the Patriots
- Two-time Pro Bowler (2021, 2022)
- 34 regular season games – 120 combined tackles, 28 sacks, 28 TFL, 53 QB hits,
4 PD, 2 FF, 2 FR
When Bill Belichick went on an unprecedented spending spree during 2021 free agency, Matthew Judon was one of the more exciting names announced to be coming to New England.
Although he wasn’t the flashiest of linebackers/edge defenders during his five years with the Baltimore Ravens, it was obvious that his presence on the defense would be beneficial even at that level. But in the two seasons he’s suited up for the Patriots, he’s become an absolute menace on the field in all the right ways.
During his first season, he made an instant impact racking up 12.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hits. He brought an infectious energy to the team and the field and swiftly became a leader in the locker room, not to mention a fan favorite.
He continued to build upon his impressive performance in 2021 last season, setting a new career-high with 15.5 sacks. That made him a player with the third-most single-season sacks in Patriots history, falling just three sacks short of Andre Tippett‘s all-time record.
It also made him surpass Chandler Jones’ record of 12.5 sacks in a single season to become the Patriots player with the most sacks in the Bill Belichick era.
His mentorship has also dramatically impacted his teammates, notably Deatrich Wise Jr. and Josh Uche, who accomplished their best seasons in 2022. As the Patriots hope to build upon their recent defensive success, Judon’s presence will surely be beneficial as long as he’s in New England.