Overview
- New England rebounded from consecutive 4-13 seasons to go 14-3, win the AFC East, beat the Chargers 16-3 for its first playoff win since Super Bowl LIII, and will host the Texans on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the divisional round.
- Kraft called dismissing Jerod Mayo after one season one of his hardest choices and said it carried the worst financial hit of his ownership, citing Mayo’s deal and contracts for roughly 25 assistants.
- He said hiring Mike Vrabel accelerated the turnaround, noting a veteran staff and personnel upgrades with Eliot Wolf that helped reposition the team quickly.
- Kraft praised quarterback Drake Maye as “really special,” highlighting his humility and noting he is viewed as an NFL MVP candidate in his second season.
- He credited the Gillette Stadium crowd as a difference-maker in the wild-card win and said he expects to learn in the coming weeks whether he will be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.