The 2026 season is the New England Patriots' 57th in the National Football League (NFL), their 67th overall, their third under de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and their second under head coach Mike Vrabel. The Patriots will look to match or improve on their 14–3 record from the previous season. With a Week 2 home win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Patriots became the first team originating in the American Football League to reach 600 lifetime wins.

Roster changes

Free agency Unrestricted PositionPlayer2026 teamDate signedContractLBK'Lavon ChaissonWashington CommandersMarch 13, 20261 year, $11 millionSJaylinn HawkinsBaltimore RavensMarch 12, 20262 years, $10 millionTEAustin HooperAtlanta FalconsMarch 12, 20261 year, $3.25 millionOTVederian LoweSan Francisco 49ersMarch 12, 20262 years, $9.25 millionOTThayer MunfordDTKhyiris TongaKansas City ChiefsMarch 12, 20263 years, $21 million

Restricted PositionPlayer2026 teamDate signedContractCBAlex AustinMiami DolphinsMarch 12, 20261 year, $1.22 millionQBTommy DeVitoNew England PatriotsMarch 6, 20262 years, $4.4 millionOTYasir DurantLBJack GibbensArizona CardinalsMarch 16, 20262 years, $7.5 millionDTJaquelin Roy

Exclusive Rights PositionPlayer2026 teamDate signedContractDTIsaiah ItonNew England PatriotsJuly 20, 20261 year, $885,000RBDeneric PrinceTEJack WestoverNew England PatriotsApril 21, 20261 year, $1.075 million

Signings/waiver claims

PositionPlayerPrevious teamDate signedContractLBJesse LuketaLos Angeles RamsMarch 5, 20261 year, $1.145 millionSMike BrownTennessee TitansMarch 12, 20261 year, $1.315 millionSKevin ByardChicago Bears1 year, $7 millionWRRomeo DoubsGreen Bay Packers4 years, $68 millionFBReggie GilliamBuffalo Bills3 years, $10.8 millionTEJulian HillMiami Dolphins3 years, $15 millionLBDre'Mont JonesBaltimore Ravens3 years, $36.5 millionOGAlijah Vera-TuckerNew York Jets3 years, $42 millionLBK.J. BrittMiami DolphinsMarch 16, 20261 year, $1.4025 millionLSNiko LalosNew Orleans Saints1 year, $1.005 millionOTJames HudsonNew York GiantsMarch 23, 20261 year, $1.4025 millionCBKindle VildorTampa Bay Buccaneers1 year, $1.4025 millionTEMitch Van VoorenCleveland BrownsJuly 22, 20261 year, $885,000DTCasey RogersNew York GiantsAugust 3, 20261 year, $1.005 millionWRTejhaun PalmerArizona CardinalsAugust 4, 20261 year, $885,000LSNiko LalosNew Orleans SaintsAugust 10, 20261 year, $1.005 millionRBHassan HaskinsLos Angeles ChargersAugust 12, 20261 year, $1.145 millionRBJaMycal HastyMiami DolphinsAugust 13, 20261 year, $1.215 millionOGDarrian DalcourtCleveland BrownsAugust 15, 20261 year, $885,000CJoe MichalskiDenver Broncos1 year, $885,000OGGreg Van RotenNew York GiantsAugust 18, 20261 year, $3 millionOGJack ConleyCleveland BrownsAugust 24, 20261 year, $885,000PMatt HaackWashington Commanders1 year, $1.3 millionTECameron LatuPhiladelphia EaglesAugust 31, 20261 year, $1.005 millionLBDarius MuasauNew York Giants2 years, $2.265 millionCBen BrownNew England PatriotsSeptember 1, 20262 years, $3.84 millionDTDaQuan JonesBuffalo BillsSeptember 12, 20261 year, $3.5 millionOGMatt PryorArizona CardinalsOctober 1, 20261 year, $1.3 million

Releases/waivers PositionPlayerDate released/waivedRBAntonio GibsonFebruary 23, 2026WRStefon DiggsMarch 11, 2026LBAnfernee JenningsLBJahlani TavaiQBJoshua DobbsMarch 23, 2026WRJohn JilesApril 27, 2026TEMarshall LangRBElijah MitchellApril 28, 2026LSNiko LalosMay 20, 2026DTTravis ShawJuly 17, 2026FBBrock LampeJuly 22, 2026OTSebastian GutierrezJuly 25, 2026LBOtis ReeseJuly 31, 2026TEJeremiah FranklinAugust 4, 2026DTDavid Blay Jr.August 7, 2026RBMyles MontgomeryAugust 12, 2026LSNiko LalosAugust 15, 2026TEMitch Van VoorenAugust 18, 2026CBKenneth HarrisAugust 24, 2026WRKobe PrenticeRBHassan HaskinsAugust 29, 2026LBK.J. BrittAugust 31, 2026CBen Brown

Trades March 11 – Center Garrett Bradbury was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round selection. April 7 – Linebacker Marte Mapu and a 2027 seventh-round selection were traded to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round selection. June 1 – A 2027 fifth-round selection and a 2028 first-round selection were traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for wide receiver A. J. Brown. August 10 – Tackle Caedan Wallace and a 2029 seventh-round selection were traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round selection. August 25 – Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was traded to the Houston Texans in exchange for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round selection. August 29 – A 2028 seventh-round selection was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for running back Corey Kiner. August 30 – A 2027 sixth-round selection was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for tackle Walter Rouse and a 2028 seventh-round selection.

Draft

2026 New England Patriots draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 28 Caleb Lomu OT Utah From Texans via Bills 2 55 Gabe Jacas LB Illinois From Chargers 3 95 Eli Raridon TE Notre Dame 5 171 Karon Prunty CB Wake Forest 6 196 Dametrious Crownover OT Texas A&M From Colts via Vikings, Panthers and Jaguars 212 Namdi Obiazor LB TCU 7 234 Behren Morton QB Texas Tech From Vikings 245 Jam Miller RB Alabama From Rams via Texans and Jaguars 247 Quintayvious Hutchins LB Boston College

+ 2026 New England Patriots undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Tanner Arkin TE Illinois David Blay Jr. DT Miami (FL) Channing Canada CB TCU Nick DeGennaro WR James Madison Kyle Dixon WR Culver–Stockton Cameron Dorner WR North Texas Kenneth Harris CB Oklahoma State Khalil Jacobs LB Missouri Jimmy Kibble WR Georgetown Myles Montgomery RB UCF JonDarius Morgan OG UAB Jacob Rizy C Florida State Xavier Holmes LB James Madison Peter Manuma S Hawaii Travis Shaw DT Texas Riley Wilson LB Arizona Jeremiah Franklin TE Boston College Kobe Prentice WR Baylor Eric Butler S San Diego State Erick Hunter LB Morgan State

Staff

Current roster

Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Indianapolis Colts T 13–13 0–0–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 Philadelphia Eagles W 24–21 1–0–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 3 at Cleveland Browns L 13–37 1–1–1 Huntington Bank Field Recap

Regular season Schedule Week Date Time () Opponent Result Record Venue Network Recap 1 September 9 8:20p.m. at Seattle Seahawks L 10–13 0–1 Lumen Field NBC Recap 2 September 20 1:00p.m. Pittsburgh Steelers W 20–3 1–1 Gillette Stadium CBS Recap 3 September 27 1:00p.m. at Jacksonville Jaguars L 6–35 1–2 EverBank Stadium CBS Recap 4 October 4 1:00p.m. at Buffalo Bills W 29–26 2–2 Highmark Stadium CBS Recap 5 October 11 1:00p.m. Las Vegas Raiders Gillette Stadium CBS 6 October 18 1:00p.m. New York Jets Gillette Stadium CBS 7 8:15p.m. at Chicago Bears Soldier Field Prime Video 8 November 1 4:25p.m. at Miami Dolphins Hard Rock Stadium CBS 9 November 8 4:25p.m. Green Bay Packers Gillette Stadium Fox 10 November 15 9:30a.m. at Detroit Lions Allianz Arena Fox 11 Bye 12 November 29 8:20p.m. at Los Angeles Chargers SoFi Stadium NBC 13 December 6 4:25p.m. Buffalo Bills Gillette Stadium CBS 14 8:15p.m. Minnesota Vikings Gillette Stadium Prime Video 15 8:15p.m. at Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium ESPN/ABC 16 December 27 1:00p.m. at New York Jets MetLife Stadium CBS 17 January 2/3/4 Denver Broncos Gillette Stadium 18 January 9/10 Miami Dolphins Gillette Stadium Notes Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Networks and times from Weeks 5–16 and dates from Weeks 12–16 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling. The date, time and network for Week 17 will be finalized by no later than the end of Week 15. The date, time and network for Week 18 will be finalized at the end of Week 17.

Game summaries Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks NFL Kickoff

This game served as a rematch of Super Bowl LX and was the first NFL Kickoff Game that was a Super Bowl rematch since 2016, although Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was injured in his first possession and was replaced by Drew Lock. After securing a 10–0 lead early in the third quarter, the Patriots collapsed by allowing 13 unanswered points. The Patriots ultimately lost to the Seahawks for the fifth straight time, having last defeated them in Super Bowl XLIX. Consequently, they started their season with a record of 0–1 for the second consecutive year. It is also their first road loss since Mike Vrabel became head coach in 2025. It was the first time this occurred since Week 16 of the 2024 season, snapping a 9-game win streak.

Week 2: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

With the win, the Patriots improved to 1–1 and secured their 600th win in franchise history. It was their first home opening win since 2020.

Week 3: at Jacksonville Jaguars

With an abysmal loss, New England fell to 1–2 for the sixth straight year, while suffering their road loss to Jacksonville since 2018. This also marked the first time since Week 18 of 2023 that the Patriots failed to score a touchdown.

Week 4: at Buffalo Bills

With their second straight win road win against the Bills, the Patriots improved to 2–2 for the second consecutive year. They also began 1–0 against the AFC East.

Week 5: vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Standings Division

Conference

References

Notes

External links