The 2025 offseason was nothing short of seismic for the New England Patriots. A franchise known for its stoic, methodical approach suddenly became one of the league’s most aggressive rebuilders. The shockwaves started with a coaching change, as Mike Vrabel replaced Jerod Mayo after just one season. And that was only the beginning.
Nine projected starters arrived in free agency. Two more were added through the draft. The result? A team that bears little resemblance to the one that limped through 2024. With sweeping changes on both sides of the ball, several veterans were displaced. But none saw his status drop more dramatically than running back Rhamondre Stevenson.
Just a year ago, Stevenson looked like a centerpiece of New England’s offense. He had strung together a 1,000-yard campaign in 2022 and was on pace to repeat it before injuries cut his 2023 season short. Even so, the Patriots rewarded him with a four-year, $36 million extension, signaling long-term belief in his ability.
That belief vanished faster than a Foxborough fog. Stevenson’s 2024 season was marred by costly fumbles—seven in total—which ultimately soured the coaching staff. Despite his solid production when healthy, ball security became an unforgivable issue in a Patriots system that still values discipline and fundamentals above all.
Enter Mike Vrabel, a former Patriot himself, who vowed to fix Stevenson’s fumbling problems during his introductory press conference. At first, it seemed like a new beginning. Vrabel’s track record with strong running games in Tennessee offered hope that Stevenson might thrive in a power-run scheme. But that optimism didn’t last long.
In the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Patriots sent a clear message by selecting TreVeyon Henderson. The former Ohio State standout isn’t just athletic—he’s electric. With a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and a 9.45 Relative Athletic Score, Henderson brings the kind of juice that Stevenson lacks. More importantly, he holds onto the football.
Henderson fumbled just once in 590 collegiate carries. Combine that with his elite pass-blocking ability, and it’s easy to see why New England pounced. This isn’t just a backup or a change-of-pace option. Henderson is a legitimate challenger for the RB1 role, and likely the favorite.
That puts Stevenson in a precarious spot. Though he’s under contract through 2028, the guaranteed money won’t protect him if he becomes a liability. And with the offense shifting toward a younger, faster, more versatile identity, Stevenson suddenly feels like an odd man out.
The Patriots aren’t lacking in backfield depth, either. Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. are still on the roster, both offering special teams value and fresher legs. If Stevenson’s fumbling persists or his efficiency drops, it won’t take much for the coaching staff to make a change.
More than any other position, running back roles can shift rapidly. And in New England, where success is measured in inches and mistakes are magnified, a single weakness can end a career. Stevenson’s fumbles may have already crossed that threshold.
While other veterans will battle for snaps and roles, Stevenson might have already lost his. His contract, once a vote of confidence, now looks like a weight. In a Patriots backfield suddenly brimming with youth and promise, he’s no longer the future—he’s barely the present.
And so, as the storm clears and a new era begins in Foxborough, Rhamondre Stevenson stands at its center—thunderstruck, sidelined, and searching for redemption.