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Patriots' Super Bowl appearance was no fluke, team legends say: 'They're for real'
By Ryan Morik
Published March 28, 2026
The New England Patriots were supposed to be "mid," Rob Gronkowski told Fox News Digital, but instead, they looked like the Pats of yesteryear.
New England stunned the football world with a 14-3 record and going all the way to the Super Bowl, led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Sure, New England may have benefited from an easy schedule in the regular season, and, in the playoffs, they faced Jarrett Stidham instead of Bo Nix. And the Super Bowl was not pretty. They took a beating from the Seattle Seahawks.
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New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman raises his hands in celebration with tight end Rob Gronkowski after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Danny Amendola during the third quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game at Gillette Stadium Jan. 10, 2015. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
But Gronkowski and one of his former teammates do not believe the 2025 Pats were a fluke.
"What the New England Patriots did this season was incredible. And they're just going to keep on building on that from here on and, going into next year, I'm sure they're going to be making the playoffs on a consistent basis now," Gronk told Fox News Digital.
"That's the expectation. They got the quarterback, they got the coach, they got the ownership, they got the foundation now. And you're going to see them competing at a high level every single year now, which is great for Patriot fans."
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye warms up before the AFC championship against the Denver Broncos Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Patriots have built the next generation of success, and Gronkowski sees the same in Infiniti and its newly-released QX65. Gronk and Julian Edelman were on hand at Grand Central Terminal in New York for the unveiling.
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"I've always been about showing up at big moments and putting in the work behind the scenes, and that's what stood out to me with the Infiniti," Gronkowski said. "They're really being intentional about how they move forward and what they're building next.
"That's how you got to be as a football player. As an athlete, you got to be very intentional … to stay at the top of your game and be able to compete at a top level. And that's what Infiniti is doing.
"I was fortunate enough in my career to play in a lot of big moments, and that's exactly what you see with the Infiniti," Edelman added. "How they are so detailed and have a purpose for everything that they do. When you look at the design of the car, the back, the interior's spacious, very detailed. I mean, it's just something that's been so cool. It's been a fun experience."
Edelman, too, is "very confident" that the new-look Pats are here to stay.
"Anytime you got a head coach, a quarterback, an owner and a GM working together and unison, it seems like every free agent they signed had a big moment, big role on the team. There was a lot of great things that happened."
Edelman did warn Patriots fans to temper expectations a bit and not expect another 14-win season. However, he does expect a more sound product on the field.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye celebrates with the AFC championship trophy after the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Colo., Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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"It's time on task. You know, time on task with the quarterback. Get him ready with the offensive line, getting that offensive line kind of fixed up and get them working together more. I mean, they're a young group. So, I'm really excited for the Patriots this year," he said.
"I think they're for real. They may go out and not have as many wins, but I think they're going to be a better football team this year."
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https://www.foxnews.com/sports/patriots-super-bowl-appearance-no-fluke-teams-legends-say-theyre-real