The 2005 season was the New England Patriots' 36th in the National Football League (NFL), their 46th overall and their sixth under head coach Bill Belichick. For the first time since 1994, Ty Law was not on the opening day roster. With a Week 6 loss to the Denver Broncos, the Patriots failed to either improve or match their 14–2 record from last season; they finished with a 10–6 record and the division title before losing in the playoffs to the Broncos, ending their hopes of becoming the first NFL team to three peat in the Super Bowl.
Ten days after earning a victory in Super Bowl XXXIX, linebacker Tedy Bruschi suffered a stroke and initially planned on missing the entire season; Bruschi returned to the field against the Buffalo Bills on October 30. Cornerback Ty Law was released in the offseason, and injuries at cornerback, as well as a season-ending injury to safety Rodney Harrison in Week 3, forced the Patriots to start a number of players in the secondary early in the season. Overall, injuries caused the Patriots to start 45 different players at one point or another during the season, an NFL record for a division champion (breaking the record of 42 set by the Patriots in 2003).Bill Belichick Biography New England Patriots. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
Beginning the season with a 4–4 record, the Patriots lost their first game at home since 2002 against the San Diego Chargers in Week 4. The team ended the season on a 6–2 run to finish 10–6, earning their third straight AFC East title. (The Patriots were the first team in NFL history to alternate wins and losses in each of their first nine games.)This was later broken by the 2013 New York Jets, who alternated wins and losses in their first ten games
With the fourth seed in the AFC playoffs, the Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the wild card round but fell to the Denver Broncos on the road in the divisional round, committing five turnovers in the game and marking the first playoff loss in the Brady/Belichick era and the first since 1998. They were the last defending champion to win a playoff game until the 2014 Seattle Seahawks. This would begin an 18-season stretch in which the defending NFL champions failed to defend their Super Bowl title before eventually being broken by the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs.
Offseason
Tedy Bruschi suffers a stroke On February 16, 2005, three days after playing in the 2005 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, linebacker Tedy Bruschi suffered a mild stroke while at his home in North Attleborough, Massachusetts. Bruschi, who awoke to blurred vision and temporary numbness, was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital after a 9-1-1 call by his wife, Heidi.Patriots' Bruschi Suffers Stroke About.com. Retrieved June 10, 2007. Without any long-term effects, Bruschi underwent heart surgery to repair a congenital condition in his heart known as an atrial septal defect.Tedy Bruschi and stroke Kevin, M.D. – Medical Weblog. Retrieved June 10, 2007.
Bruschi announced his intentions to sit out the 2005 season on July 20, while still citing his ongoing health improvement following the stroke.Bruschi to sit out 2005 Patriots.com. Retrieved June 10, 2007. Following this announcement, Bruschi was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list, keeping him inactive for a minimum of six games to begin the 2005 campaign. This is particularly notable, as the Patriots decided to forgo placing Bruschi on the injured reserve list, which would have prohibited him from playing in any 2005 games. With the window left open for his return, Bruschi returned to the practice field on October 19, during the Patriots' bye week.Ready Bruschi Boston.com. Retrieved June 10, 2007. Only three months after announcing his plans to sit out the entire season, Bruschi returned to the Patriots for their next game against the Buffalo Bills on October 30. Bruschi would go on to play the rest of the season, only missing the Patriots' final game of the regular season as well as their first playoff game due to a leg injury.
Staff changes Bill Belichick lost both of his coordinators following the 2004 season. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis left to become head coach at the University of Notre Dame,Weis to be introduced as Irish coach Monday ESPN.com. Retrieved November 8, 2007. while defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel was named head coach of the Cleveland Browns.Browns hire Crennel as head coach CBC Sports. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Belichick only replaced Crennel for the 2005 season, promoting defensive backs coach Eric Mangini to defensive coordinator.New England Patriots February 9–27, 2005 Transactions Pro Football Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Assistant offensive line and tight ends coach Jeff Davidson followed Crennel to Cleveland, and was replaced as tight ends coach by Pete Mangurian and as assistant offensive line coach by offensive coaching assistant Matt Patricia.New England Patriots March, 2005 Transactions Pro Football Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Also departing was assistant strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul, who was replaced by former Canadian Football League star Harold Nash, and defensive coaching assistant Cory Undlin, who followed Crennel to the Browns as a defensive quality control coach. Undlin was replaced as a defensive coaching assistant by Mike Judge. Former assistant running backs/wide receivers coach Joel Collier rejoined the staff as an assistant defensive backs coach.
In the front office, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Andy Wasynczuk left the organization to join Harvard Business School. Assistant Director of College Scouting Lionel Vital and assistant director of Pro Scouting Keith Kidd also departed; Vital became a national scout with the Baltimore Ravens, while Kidd joined ESPN.com.
Departures Free agency saw the departure of only one full-time starter from 2004, offensive guard Joe Andruzzi, who signed with the Cleveland Browns. However, three-time Pro Bowl defensive back Ty Law was released in a salary cap move and would stay in the division, signing with the New York Jets.New York Jets August 8–21, 2005 Transactions Pro Football Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Veteran linebacker Roman Phifer, who had started on all three of the Patriots' Super Bowl teams, was also released,Phifer sent packing by Patriots CBC Sports. Retrieved November 8, 2007. along with nose tackle Keith Traylor.New England Patriots May, 2005 Transactions Pro Football Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Long-time Patriot linebacker Ted Johnson was a surprise departure, retiring on the eve of training camp.New England Patriots July 25 – August 8, 2005 Transactions Pro Football Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Other free agency departures were Adrian Klemm (Green Bay Packers) and David Patten (Washington Redskins).
Arrivals
Unlike past Patriots offseasons, the 2005 offseason did not bring the arrival of any would-be full-time starters. Linebackers Chad Brown and Monty Beisel started six games together to begin the season,Chad Brown Biography New England Patriots. Retrieved November 8, 2007. but both were benched in favor of Mike Vrabel and Tedy Bruschi, after returning from his stroke.Monty Beisel Biography New England Patriots. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Veteran quarterback and New England native Doug Flutie returned to the Patriots for the final season of his career, having last played for them in 1989.Doug Flutie Biography. Retrieved November 8, 2007. In November, facing multiple injuries to their defensive backfield, the Patriots signed veteran cornerback Artrell Hawkins, who would go on to start six games, including both of the Patriots' playoff games.Artrell Hawkins Biography New England Patriots. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Other arrivals were Chad Scott,Chad Scott Biography New England Patriots. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Wesly Mallard,Wesly Mallard Biography New England Patriots. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Tim Dwight,Tim Dwight Biography New England Patriots. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Antuan Edwards,Antuan Edwards Biography New England Patriots. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Chad Morton,New England Patriots June 27 – July 24, 2005 Transactions Pro Football Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2007. and David Terrell,New England Patriots April, 2005 Transactions Pro Football Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2007. but only Scott and Dwight finished the season with the Patriots.
Free agents or potential free agents Brandon Gorin, Patrick Pass, Stephen Neal, Tom Ashworth, Don Davis, David Givens, Jarvis Green, and Troy Brown (after being released) were all re-signed,Troy Brown Biography New England Patriots. Retrieved November 8, 2007. while Tom Brady,Brady now among the NFL's highest-paid players ESPN.com. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Mike Vrabel, and Green all received long-term contract extensions. Defensive end Richard Seymour held out for the first four days of training camp but returned after receiving a raise.With a 40 percent raise, Seymour comes to camp The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Kicker Adam Vinatieri signed and played the full season under his franchise tag tender.
On March 4, the Patriots traded a third round pick and a fifth round pick in the 2005 NFL draft to the Arizona Cardinals for safety Duane Starks and a fifth-round pick in the 2005 draft. Starks started six-straight games for the Patriots before being placed on injured reserve in November.Duane Starks Biography New England Patriots. Retrieved November 8, 2007. Also, during the preseason, the Patriots traded their fifth-round pick in the 2006 NFL draft to the Cleveland Browns for wide receiver André Davis, who started four games for the Patriots in 2005 after being released and re-signed.Andre' Davis Biography New England Patriots. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
2005 NFL draft
+ 2005 New England Patriots draft selections Round Overall Player Position College1 32 Logan Mankins Offensive guard Fresno State3The Patriots traded their second-round pick in 2005 to the Baltimore Ravens for Baltimore's third- and sixth-round picks in 2005 and their third-round pick in the 2006 NFL draft. Patriots.com summary 84 Ellis Hobbs Cornerback Iowa State3 100 Nick Kaczur Offensive tackle Toledo4 133 James Sanders Safety Fresno State5 170 Ryan Claridge Linebacker UNLV7Draft pick received with a 2006 fifth-round pick in a trade from the Oakland Raiders for the Patriots' 2005 sixth-round pick (received in a trade from the Green Bay Packers for the Patriots' 2005 sixth-round pick (received with a 2005 third-round pick and 2006 third-round pick in a trade from the Baltimore Ravens for the Patriots' second-round pick) and 2005 seventh-round pick). 230 Matt Cassel Quarterback Southern California7 255 Andy Stokes Tight end William Penn compensatory selection
Staff 2005 New England Patriots staff Front office Chairman/CEO – Robert Kraft Vice chairman/president – Jonathan Kraft Vice president of player personnel – Scott Pioli Director of pro personnel – Nick Caserio Director of college scouting – Thomas Dimitroff Football research director – Ernie Adams
Head coaches Head coach – Bill Belichick Assistant head coach/offensive line – Dante Scarnecchia
Offensive coaches Quarterbacks – Josh McDaniels Running backs – Ivan Fears Wide receivers – Brian Daboll Tight ends – Pete Mangurian Assistant offensive line – Matt Patricia Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Eric Mangini Defensive line – Pepper Johnson Linebackers – Dean Pees Assistant secondary – Joel Collier
Special teams coaches Special teams – Brad Seely Coaching assistant – Mike Judge
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Mike Woicik Assistant strength and conditioning – Harold Nash
Opening training camp roster