The 2020 season was the New England Patriots' 51st in the National Football League (NFL), their 61st overall, and their 21st under head coach Bill Belichick.
It was the first season since 1999 without quarterback Tom Brady on the roster, as he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady led the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances, winning six, and had been their primary starting quarterback from 2001 to 2019, and would go on to win Super Bowl LV with his new team, his seventh overall. The Patriots signed long-time Carolina Panthers quarterback and 2015 MVP Cam Newton on June 29, and named him the starting quarterback on September 3.
The Patriots attempted to win their 12th consecutive AFC East title and their first since 1997 without Tom Brady. However, they saw many key players opt out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns and battled numerous injuries throughout the season. They began the season 2–5, their worst record through 7 games since 2000. They failed to improve on their 12–4 record from the previous season following a Week 7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and failed to match that record following a Week 8 loss to the division rival Buffalo Bills. Following a Sunday Night win by the Bills over the Steelers in week 14, the Patriots failed to win their division for the first time since 2008, and they were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2008 with a Week 15 loss to the Dolphins, ending their winning season streak at 19. This leaves the record to the Dallas Cowboys at 20 consecutive winning seasons from 1966 to 1985. After their blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills in week 16, the New England Patriots finished the 2020 season with a losing record for the first time since 2000.
This was only the third time after 2000 and the first time since 2008 in which the Patriots missed the playoffs and failed to win the division. With their 11-year streak of playoff appearances snapped, the Buffalo Bills now hold the league's longest playoff streak, making the playoffs every year since 2018. In addition, New England's streak of 10+ win seasons that dated back to their 2003 Super Bowl-winning season, which was an NFL record, also came to an end following a Week 14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
For the season, the Patriots adopted a modified version of their Color Rush jerseys as their primary home uniform while introducing a new road uniform for the first time since 2000.
This was also the final season of Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman’s career. He played his final game in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers. He underwent precautionary surgery for a chronic knee injury and did not return for the remainder of the season. On April 12, 2021, he announced his retirement from the NFL.
Roster changes Free agency Unrestricted PositionPlayer2020 teamDate signedContractQBTom BradyTampa Bay BuccaneersMarch 20, 20202 years, $50 millionDEShilique CalhounNew England PatriotsMarch 24, 20201 year, $1.5 millionOLBJamie CollinsDetroit LionsMarch 25, 20203 years, $30 millionWRPhillip DorsettSeattle SeahawksMarch 30, 20201 year, $1 millionFSNate EbnerNew York GiantsMarch 26, 20201 year, $2 millionCJames FerentzNew England PatriotsSeptember 16, 20201 year, $825,000KNick FolkNew England PatriotsAugust 24, 20201 year, $1,05 millionCTed KarrasMiami DolphinsMarch 20, 20201 year, $4 millionFSDevin McCourtyNew England PatriotsMarch 17, 20202 years, $23 millionOTMarshall NewhouseTennessee TitansNovember 27, 20201 year, $72,000MLBElandon RobertsMiami DolphinsMarch 24, 20201 year, $2 millionDTDanny SheltonDetroit LionsMarch 24, 20202 years, $8 millionWRMatthew SlaterNew England PatriotsMarch 13, 20202 years, $5.3 millionGJoe ThuneyNew England PatriotsMarch 20, 2020Signed franchise tender worth 1 year, $14.8 millionOLBKyle Van NoyMiami DolphinsMarch 21, 20204 years, $51 million
Restricted PositionPlayer2020 teamDate signedContractDTAdam ButlerNew England PatriotsApril 17, 2020Signed tender worth $3.3 millionGJermaine EluemunorNew England PatriotsApril 16, 2020Signed tender worth $2.1 million
Exclusive-Rights PositionPlayer2020 teamDate signedContractDEKeionta DavisNew England PatriotsMarch 17, 20201 year, $675,000
Signings PositionPlayerPrevious teamDate signedContractDTBeau AllenTampa Bay BuccaneersMarch 20, 20202 years, $7 millionSAdrian PhillipsLos Angeles ChargersMarch 21, 20202 years, $6 millionFBDanny VitaleGreen Bay PackersMarch 21, 20201 year, $1.3 millionWRDamiere ByrdArizona CardinalsMarch 23, 20201 year, $1.4 millionFSCody DavisJacksonville JaguarsMarch 23, 20201 year, $1.5 millionOLBBrandon CopelandNew York JetsMarch 25, 20201 year, $1.1 millionQBBrian HoyerIndianapolis ColtsMarch 25, 20201 year, $1.1 millionWRMarqise LeeJacksonville JaguarsApril 28, 20201 year, $1.1 millionQBCam NewtonCarolina PanthersJuly 8, 20201 year, $7.5 millionWRWill HastingsNew England PatriotsJuly 27, 20201 year, $610,000QBBrian LewerkeNew England PatriotsJuly 30, 20201 year, $610,000WRIsaiah ZuberNew England PatriotsAugust 5, 20201 year, $610,000DTDarius KilgoDetroit LionsAugust 11, 20201 year, $825,000CTyler GauthierJacksonville JaguarsAugust 12, 20201 year, $675,000RBLamar MillerHouston TexansAugust 13, 20201 year, $2.55 millionGBen BradenNew York JetsAugust 17, 20201 year, $675,000TEPaul ButlerOakland Raiders1 year, $610,000TEAlex EllisPhiladelphia Eagles1 year, $825,000TEPaul QuessenberryN/AAugust 22, 20203 years, $2.3 millionDTXavier WilliamsKansas City Chiefs1 year, $910,000WRAndre BaccelliaKansas City ChiefsAugust 29, 20201 year, $610,000 Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's season.
Releases/waivers PositionPlayer2020 teamDate released/waivedKStephen GostkowskiTennessee TitansMarch 23, 2020QBCody KesslerApril 1, 2020DEKeionta DavisApril 27, 2020SObi MelifonwuCBLenzy PipkinsJuly 25, 2020SMalik GantJuly 26, 2020WRWill HastingsQBBrian LewerkeSAdarius PickettWRSean RileyQBJ'Mar SmithLBKyahva TezinoDTCourtney WallaceWRIsaiah ZuberNew England PatriotsDENick CoeMiami DolphinsAugust 13, 2020WRQuincy AdeboyejoNew England PatriotsAugust 15, 2020TEAlex EllisAugust 22, 2020DTDarius KilgoDenver BroncosWRWill HastingsAugust 28, 2020DTMichael BarnettSeptember 3, 2020CBMike Jackson Sr.New England PatriotsWRMohamed SanuSan Francisco 49ersWRAndre BaccelliaSeptember 5, 2020TERashod BerryNew England PatriotsDETashawn BowerNew England PatriotsGBen BradenGreen Bay PackersCBMyles BryantNew England PatriotsTEJake BurtNew England PatriotsTEPaul ButlerKNick FolkNew England PatriotsCTyler GauthierMiami DolphinsLBTerez HallNew England PatriotsLBDe'Jon HarrisGreen Bay PackersQBBrian LewerkeLBCassh MaluiaNew England PatriotsRBLamar MillerChicago BearsDTBill MurrayNew England PatriotsTEPaul QuessenberryNew England PatriotsKJustin RohrwasserNew England PatriotsCBD'Angelo RossNew England PatriotsWRDevin RossNew England PatriotsRBJ. J. TaylorNew England PatriotsWRJeff ThomasDENick ThurmanNew England PatriotsDTXavier WilliamsCincinnati BengalsWRIsaiah ZuberNew England PatriotsLBCassh MaluiaNew England PatriotsNovember 10, 2020GHjalte FroholdtHouston Texans November 21, 2020LBDerek RiversLos Angeles RamsWRIsaiah FordMiami DolphinsDecember 5, 2020
Retirements PositionPlayerDate retiredTEBenjamin WatsonMarch 18, 2020FBJames DevelinApril 27, 2020CDustin WoodardAugust 13, 2020
Trades March 18 – The Patriots traded safety Duron Harmon and a 2020 seventh-round selection (No. 235 overall) to the Detroit Lions in exchange for the Lions' 2020 fifth-round selection (No. 172 overall). April 21 – The Patriots traded tight end Rob Gronkowski and a 2020 seventh-round selection (No. 241 overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for the Buccaneers' fourth-round selection (No. 139 overall). August 9 – The Patriots traded a conditional 2022 seventh-round selection to the Detroit Lions in exchange for cornerback Mike Jackson Sr. November 3 – The Patriots traded a 2022 seventh-round selection to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver Isaiah Ford.
Draft
2020 New England Patriots Draft Round Selection Player Position CollegeNotes 2 37Kyle DuggerSLenoir-Rhynefrom Los Angeles Chargers60Josh UcheOLBMichiganfrom Baltimore 3 87Anfernee JenningsOLBAlabama91Devin AsiasiTEUCLAfrom Las Vegas 101Dalton KeeneTEVirginia Techfrom Seattle via New York Jets5159Justin RohrwasserKMarshallfrom Las Vegas 6 182Michael OnwenuGMichiganfrom Detroit via Indianapolis195Justin HerronOTWake Forestfrom Denver 204Cassh MaluiaMLBWyomingfrom Houston 7 230Dustin WoodardCMemphisfrom Atlanta Notes New England traded a 2020 first-round selection (No. 23 overall) to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a 2020 second-round selection (No. 37 overall) and a 2020 third-round selection (No. 71 overall). New England traded a 2020 second-round selection (No. 55 overall) to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for wide receiver Mohamed Sanu. New England acquired a 2020 second-round selection (No. 60 overall) and a 2020 fourth-round selection (No. 129 overall) in exchange for two 2020 third-round selections (No. 71 overall and No. 98 overall). New England acquired a 2020 third-round selection (No. 91 overall) and a 2020 fifth-round selection (No. 159 overall) in exchange for a 2020 third-round selection (No. 100 overall), a 2020 fourth-round selection (No. 139 overall), and a 2020 fifth-round selection (No. 172 overall). New England acquired a 2020 third-round selection (No. 101 overall) in exchange for two 2020 fourth-round selections (No. 125 overall and No. 129 overall) and a 2021 sixth-round selection. New England acquired a 2020 fourth-round selection (No. 125 overall) as part of a trade that sent their 2019 third- and sixth-round selections to the Chicago Bears. New England acquired a 2020 fourth-round selection (No. 139 overall) as part of a trade that sent tight end Rob Gronkowski and a 2020 seventh-round selection (No. 241 overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New England traded a 2020 fourth-round selection (No. 129 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor and a 2020 sixth-round selection (No. 207 overall). New England traded a 2020 fifth-round selection (No. 168 overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2020 seventh-round selection (No. 235 overall) and defensive lineman Michael Bennett. New England acquired a 2020 fifth-round selection (No. 172 overall) as a part of a trade that sent safety Duron Harmon and a 2020 seventh-round selection (No. 235 overall) to the Detroit Lions. New England acquired a 2020 sixth-round selection (No. 182 overall) as part of a trade that sent two 2020 sixth-round selections (No. 212 overall and No. 213 overall) to the Indianapolis Colts. New England acquired a 2020 sixth-round selection (No. 195 overall) as part of a trade that sent cornerback Duke Dawson and a 2020 seventh-round selection (No. 237 overall) to the Denver Broncos. New England traded a 2020 sixth-round selection (No. 202 overall) to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for offensive tackle Korey Cunningham. New England acquired a 2020 sixth-round selection (No. 204 overall) as part of a trade that sent cornerback Keion Crossen to the Houston Texans. New England traded a 2020 sixth-round selection (No. 207 overall) to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for center Russell Bodine. New England acquired a 2020 seventh-round selection (No. 230 overall) as part of a trade that sent safety Jordan Richards to the Atlanta Falcons.