New England Patriots
“Kudos to them, they made more plays than us, but I feel sick, bro.”
New England Patriots cornerback Charles Woods sits on the bench after losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
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The 2025 Patriots season was a success. You can still feel sick about its ending.
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Drake Maye admits he needed pain-killing shot for shoulder injury
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The pain was palpable in the Patriots‘ locker room after Sunday’s Super Bowl LX loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Ben Brown, the massive utility player on the Patriots’ offensive line, slowly peeled his name plate off of his locker. Marcus Jones, one of the game’s premier punt returners, winced as he tugged at the eye-black sticker on his face. Stefon Diggs, the Patriots’ first 1,000 yard receiver since Julian Edelman, had his eyes transfixed on his phone for a while.
Jaylinn Hawkins sat at his locker taking the tape off of his ankles as he answered questions from reporters. The pain of the 29-13 defeat was hard to process in the moment.
“I just feel numb,” Hawkins said. “I feel like everybody played their hearts out. “Everybody did what they could do and try to go as hard as they can, so I really just feel numb. Numb. Numb. Numb.”
There were big, navy Patriots-themed travel bags with red straps on the floor for the players’ equipment. Hawkins packed as he talked. Fellow safety Craig Woodson, who led the team with 10 tackles including three for-loss, answered questions calmly, but the disappointment was written all over his face.
“I’m sick, man. This is something that you work so hard for,” Woodson said. “It’s something that you know you have in the grasp of your hands, but they got it. They won today. Kudos to them, they made more plays than us, but I feel sick, bro.”
Will Campbell, who allowed a career-high 14 pressures, didn’t bother to answer questions. Jared Wilson saw a crowd of reporters heading for his locker. He looked around, smiled awkwardly, and made his escape before the cameras could surround him.
“Man, I’m out of here,” Wilson said. “Ain’t nobody ask no questions yet.”
That stinging feeling of frustration just wouldn’t go away. These Patriots had overachieved and surpassed all expectations just one season removed from finishing 4-13. They were one win away from a title, but things went awry on the final Sunday.
It wasn’t the only feeling in the room. There was also pride in what they accomplished.
“Nobody thought that we would be here,” cornerback Carlton Davis said. “Obviously we didn’t get the job done, and that [expletive] stings. That [expletive] is never going to not sting. But we’ve got a bright future. We’ve got a lot of great young players coming in and taking the league by storm.”
The culture that they built in that locker room, piece-by-piece, carried them here to Santa Clara. It’s part of why both Hawkins and Diggs said they hope they’ll be able to return to the team next year.
“We built a family, for real,” Hawkins said. “That’s what I would say. We built that. It’s just, the family didn’t get the outcome they wanted.”
“I know we’re going to shake back,” Woodson later added. “I’m not worried. This is a great group of guys. We have a great team. I’m not worried at all.”
Morgan Moses ended his own press conference. He was one of the ones who stayed the longest to answer questions. There comes a point though, when a person reaches their limit. The 34-year-old veteran offensive tackle was tired, weary, and ready to see his family.
“It’s been an unbelievable journey, not just for me, but my kids as well,” Moses said. “They got to gain an uncle in Will [Campbell]. They gained friends in the locker room. I think that’s the beauty of it all, you don’t necessarily know what you’re walking into in a new locker room and it turns out to be the best thing you ever had. I tell the guys to cherish these moments because these are moments that you’ll never forget.”
Kayshon Boutte was peppered with questions about quarterback Drake Maye, who revealed that had played the game after receiving a pain-killing injection. Moving the ball was a struggle for Maye and the entire Patriots offense until late in the game. He wound up with a pair of touchdown passes and three turnovers.
How might the experience help the second-year quarterback get better moving forward?
“That might be a Drake question,” Boutte said.
Maye was standing at his locker, shirtless, while coach Mike Vrabel came over dressed in a full suit. Their backs were turned away from the media, voices inaudible. Vrabel whispered a message to the young quarterback and patted his rear end before walking away.
On his way out of the stadium, Jahlani Tavai walked through the tunnel with his arm in a sling and a lei around his neck. A lei is wreath or necklace, usually made of flowers, given as gifts to symbolize connection, friendship, and honor. Defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga’s mother had given them to the team.
There was plenty of pain as the Patriots stumbled on football’s biggest stage. But there was also honor in the journey that brought them there.
“We built a brotherhood at the end of the day,” Woodson said. “There were a lot of ups and downs in the season. We had a rollercoaster. But at the end of the day, we’re a brotherhood and we ride behind each other win or loss.”
What do the Patriots need to do in the offseason?
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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