The New England Patriots wrapped up an amazing transformational 2025 NFL season. Under Head Coach and top personnel evaluator, Mike Vrabel, the should-be NFL Coach of the Year, and quarterback Drake Maye, a top NFL MVP candidate, the Patriots reversed a dismal 2024, 4-13 record and notched a 14-3 season.
In addition, their rookie running back, Treveyon Henderson, also entered elite company.
Vrabel should be the consensus NFL Coach of the Year, and Maye should similarly wrap up the NFL MVP award. Neither may get them, but they both deserve the awards, notwithstanding. Yet, alongside the two, second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson has entered rarified air in Patriots' history. Henderson became only the fifth Patriots' rookie to score nine or more touchdowns in a season. He had 10.
He has been a revelation. Though he was foolishly benched for most of the Patriots' first eight of their nine games (for pass-blocking reasons), he nevertheless roared onto the NFL scene and provided a spark and explosiveness the Patriots have been missing since the days of Dion Lewis and Hall of Famer Curtis Martin.
TreVeyon Henderson has been an explosive rookie for the Patriots
TreVeyon Henderson had already secured the NFL's first-team All-Rookie spot and then entered the elite company in Patriots' rookie history.
He tied future Patriots' and Pro Football Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski when he scored his tenth rookie touchdown of the season against Miami.
With @Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson's 5-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, he became the fifth Patriots rookie to score at least 9 total touchdowns in a season, joining Curtis Martin (14), Robert Edwards (12), Rob Gronkowski (10), Randy Vataha (9) and Jim Colclough… pic.twitter.com/Zd3SZBxOWz
— Patriots Communications (@PatriotsComms) January 4, 2026
Henderson entered the scene as the Patriots' second-round pick, the 38th overall, and Mike Vrabel's second-ever pick for the silver and blue. After starring for the Ohio State Buckeyes, he picked right up where he left off in college when he finally got the opportunity.
TreVeyon Henderson's potential is enormous
The statistics tell a great story for TreVeyon Henderson in his rookie season. But they're only part of the story. A truly versatile back, He ran for a healthy 911 yards and a solid 5.1-yard average with nine touchdowns on the ground. He also added 35 catches for 221 yards and another touchdown through the air.
The only thing that kept Henderson from roaring over the 1000-yard mark rushing and doing even more damage was poor decision-making by the Patriots' coaching staff. Henderson only got 10 or more carries once before Week 8 against Cleveland.
It was injuries that finally gave him his opportunity, not recognition of his abilities by the coaching staff.
When he got the chance, Henderson exploded onto the scene and notched two touchdowns of 50 yards plus in a single game twice, once against Tampa Bay in Week 11 and again vs. Buffalo in Week 15. Similar to the benching of Efton Chism III, it was only poor coaching decisions (and a poor run-blocking offensive line, as well) that kept Henderson from taking the top off the NFL in his rookie season.
The sky is the limit for Henderson in the future alongside a similar prodigy, quarterback Drake Maye. Expect Vrabel to bolster his offensive line with two or three key additions, including road-graders who can finally open holes for the explosive Henderson and the now reinvigorated (and fumble-free) Rhamondre Stevenson in the future.
Meanwhile, the Patriots are in the playoffs, and Henderson and company have their eyes on the biggest prize, the Lombardi Trophy. They might just get that too.