New England Patriots
The Patriots’ linebackers were elite under Mike Vrabel last year. Will they stay healthy enough to do it again?
New England Patriots linebacker Harold Landry III (2) tackles New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) during the first quarter. The New England Patriots played the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on December 1, 2025. (Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff)
-
Patriots 2026 position preview: Running backs edition
-
Patriots 2026 position preview: Tight ends edition
Welcome to Boston.com’s Patriots position preview series. As we count down the days heading into training camp, we’ll take a look at where the Patriots stand at each position using key stats and observations from spring workouts. You can find our preview on the Patriots’ quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, running backs, and defensive backs here.
Players: K.J. Britt, Christian Elliss, Amari Gainer, Xavier Holmes, Quintayvious Hutchins, Khalil Jacobs, Gabe Jacas, Harold Landry, Jesse Luketa, Chad Muma, Elijah Ponder, Otis Reese, Robert Spillane, Bradyn Swinson.
It should be no surprise that the Patriots’ linebackers played at a high level last season under Mike Vrabel.
Not only did Vrabel play the position for more than a decade in the league, he brought in several players he coached with the Titans at this position and a number of them had a big impact.
Harold Landry led the team in sacks. Robert Spillane led the team in tackles. Jack Gibbens was a key contributor in his reserve role.
This group lost a pair of productive players in K’Lavon Chaisson and Gibbens, but it will return many of the players who contributed heavily to the team’s success.
Here’s a look at where they stand heading into training camp.
Key Stats:
- The Patriots were eighth in the league in yards allowed per game (295.2) and fourth in points allowed per game (18.2).
- Landry, Chaisson, and Ponder accounted for 20 of the team’s 35 sacks. All three play on the edge.
- The Patriots have had a different player lead them in tackles each of the last three seasons. Spillane led the team in tackles last season with 97.
- The Patriots’ linebackers earned the third-highest grade in the league from Pro Football Focus (86.6 overall)
Strengths: This group is balanced and deep.
Spillane fit right in as a newcomer last year, establishing himself as a starter and a leader. Elliss used his speed and motor to deliver big hits.
While the Patriots’ pass-rush left something to be desired, the pressure that Landry and Chaisson were able to generate off the edge was a plus.
Rookie Elijah Ponder started to make plays around midseason, including a four-game stretch where he produced four sacks.
For the most part, this group was durable, aggressive, and capable of frustrating offenses in a number of ways.
Weaknesses: Landry had a monster start to the season (four sacks in the first two games), but his production tailed off.
He was hampered by a nagging knee injury that seemed to slow him down a bit, though he did play in 15 of the 17 regular season games.
Chaisson, a former first-round pick who has bounced around with several teams, had a breakout year in 2025. New England will probably miss him.
While the production was there, this doesn’t appear to be the most athletic linebacking group in the league.
Observations from OTA/Minicamp:
- Landry missed spring practices, which isn’t the greatest sign for someone dealing with a nagging injury. His production was a big part of what the Patriots did defensively last season, and being cautious before the new campaign starts makes sense. He played at a high level when he was healthy and the Patriots will lean on him again this year.
- Outside linebackers coach Mike Smith said he had high expectations for Ponder, who has made “big strides” in camp: “He’s very intelligent. When you’re very intelligent like that, he’s big, he’s athletic — he’s done some kind of freaky stuff this spring coming around the edge, the top of his rush that you’re like ‘oh, wow. That’s pretty nice to see.’ But again, let’s get the pads on and let’s see if we can do that stuff when the bullets are flying.”
- The Patriots’ depth on the edge was thin during training camp due to injuries/contract situations. As these things even themselves out during the summer, this may change.
2026-27 Outlook: The Patriots have a pretty big wildcard on their hands with rookie Gabe Jacas, who is the only unsigned second-round pick in the NFL.
The Patriots traded up to get him, and he was highly regarded by several draft experts. His size, speed, and athleticism could be useful if he’s healthy, considering that Landry dealt with knee issues last season and the Patriots will rely on newcomer Dre’Mont Jones to replace Chaisson. A team can never have too many pass rushers.
At age 30, both Landry and Spillane should both continue to be big time contributors at this stage of their careers. Ponder seems to be on track to build on what he did last season.
This group was elite last year. They lost two big pieces, but the core is intact, and they should be in position to replicate a lot of their success this year.
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.
Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
