One of the feel-good stories of Mike Vrabel’s whirlwind first year as head coach of the New England Patriots reached an ending on Wednesday, and it almost felt pre-written.
Edge defender Anfernee Jennings spent the early stages of the 2025 season on the Patriots’ roster bubble and trade block. At best, he was viewed as a roster-clogger from the Bill Belichick era whom the team would eventually move on from.
Instead, Jennings defied the odds by winning Vrabel over with his work ethic. He carved out a role on special teams before emerging as a key depth piece on defense, starting three of the Patriots' four playoff games in place of the injured Harold Landry III.
Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots planned to release Jennings on Wednesday to recoup close to $4 million in 2026 salary cap savings. The team is in the midst of revamping its edge rusher group, with starter K’Lavon Chaisson also leaving the team for a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders.
Anfernee Jennings was due to earn $4 million in cash in 2026, which was the final year of his contract. Had a salary cap charge of $4.86 million.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) March 11, 2026
With K'Lavon Chaisson landing in Washington today, and Jennings being let go, Patriots re-shaping their edge position/depth. https://t.co/uSreRu43VO
Jennings more than earned himself a chance to test free agency for the first time in his career and seek out a better opportunity entering his age-29 season. And he certainly boosted his resume with how he responded to what was an uncomfortable situation in Foxboro last summer.
Anfernee Jennings is leaving the Patriots on the best terms possibleÂ
Had Jennings not balled out in the Patriots’ second preseason game in Minnesota — Vrabel put him on the field for 23 defensive snaps, and he racked up three sacks and three tackles for loss — he might not have made the team’s initial 53-man roster.
Vrabel was big on every player on that roster having a role, and Jennings didn’t have one when the regular season kicked off in September. He was a healthy inactive for the season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders.
By February, when the Patriots traveled to Denver to play in the AFC Championship Game, Jennings was Vrabel’s hand-picked captain for the game.
His true role was on special teams. He worked mostly on the kickoff return and coverage teams, and logged a career-high 194 snaps overall, per Pro Football Focus. That caught Vrabel’s attention, and he made sure to highlight Jennings’ leadership as one of the franchise’s longest-tenured players buying into whatever role was needed to help the team. Jennings' team-first attitude will likely continue to be referenced by Vrabel in team meetings in 2026 and beyond.
Playing a more regular rotational role on defense in the playoffs, Jennings racked up 10 total pressures, two sacks, and three QB hits as New England made its run to Super Bowl LX. He likely won’t command a ton of attention on the open market at this point in his career, but he has a much better chance to find a better fit now, and he definitely earned it.