Long before the New England Patriots won eight of their first 10 games this season, future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski earned three Super Bowl rings while featuring for the franchise responsible for the NFL’s first true dynasty of the 2000s.
On Wednesday, Gronkowski signed a ceremonial contract to retire as a member of the Patriots. He later spoke with reporters about how this year’s New England squad compares to the dynastic Patriots led by legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
Do 2025 Patriots have same chemistry possessed by prior championship teams?
“When you’ve got a group of guys that are in it with each other and know how to have that chemistry and work with each other and have the same timing on every single play and know where to be and trust each other well, then that’s what makes a great team,” Gronkowski explained, per Mark Daniels of MassLive. “And that’s where it’s very similar to the teams that we had in the past, too, is that sometimes we didn’t have a No. 1 guy, but everyone was a No. 1 guy, and everyone expected to get the ball, and everyone trusted in each other. And I see the similarities this year with the Patriots as to our successful years when I was here in that era.”
It’s worth noting that wide receiver Stefon Diggs is a “No. 1 guy” as it pertains to the Patriots’ passing attack this season. ESPN stats show that Diggs leads the team with 50 receptions, 61 targets and 554 receiving yards on the campaign.
That said, fellow receiver Kayshon Boutte tallied a team-best five touchdown catches over the season’s first 10 weeks. Ahead of “Thursday Night Football,” tight end Hunter Henry was second on the club with four touchdown grabs.
A previous version of Diggs may have complained about not seeing passes thrown his way in certain situations, but he seems to be quite content with the Patriots this fall.
What Rob Gronkowski loves about 2025 Patriots
“They’re playing together as a team,” Gronkowski added about the 2025 Patriots. “When you play together as a team, you necessarily don’t need that big-time playmaker. And that’s what everyone was saying at the beginning of the year, and that’s what everyone said with us at the beginning of the year as well. ‘Oh, we need that explosive guy. We need to trade for a No. 1 wide receiver, blah, blah, blah.’ But it doesn’t matter.”
Gronkowski also seems to believe that second-year quarterback Drake Maye can ultimately become Brady’s long-term successor. For now, Maye will simply try to guide New England to a ninth win in 11 tries when the Patriots host the New York Jets (2-7) on Thursday night.
