Patriots Owner Kraft Says Team Aims to Make Playoffs Every Year

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye hosted three youth sports camps over two days late last week in Auburn and Mansfield, Massachusetts, and Londonderry, New Hampshire. More than 500 youngsters attended each camp and wore white No. 10 Maye T-shirts.

Maye told campers that Super Bowl LX provided a good experience at this stage of his career. "I wish we would have won it; I have to play better," he said. He added that adversity in football can shape character and that players must maintain the right mindset after setbacks.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft appeared on ESPN's "First Take" on Friday alongside Michael Rubin at the Fanatics Fan Fest. Kraft said the team is privileged to have Mike Vrabel as head coach and expressed hope that Vrabel would remain in the role for many years. He also said he is feeling pretty good about the team because Maye is special and humble.

Kraft stated his expectations for the 2026 season. "My expectations are 'We're going to make the playoffs every year,'" he said. The Patriots signed a revised contract with right guard Mike Onwenu that reduced his salary-cap charge by $7.5 million while adding $10 million in guarantees and bonuses.

Onwenu can earn an additional $1 million for a Pro Bowl selection on the original ballot and another $1 million for an Associated Press first- or second-team All-Pro honor. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson enters the 2026 season in fifth place in Patriots history with 3,669 career rushing yards.

He needs 331 more yards to become the fourth player in franchise history to reach 4,000 career rushing yards, joining Sam Cunningham, Jim Nance and Tony Collins.