Patriots
Six Patriots players made the hypothetical 53-man roster. Belichick was picked as head coach.
With a record-six Super Bowls since the start of the new millennium, it’s no surprise that the Patriots are well-represented on ESPN’s All Quarter Century team.
ESPN compiled a 53-man roster of the best players and coaches since 2000. Players whose careers started in the 1990s are eligible for the list, but the criteria is based on production from 2000-on.
Six Patriots players made the cut. There were three on offense, two on defense, and one on special teams. Bill Belichick headlined the coaching staff.
Here’s a look at all the former Patriots mentioned on the list.
Tom Brady
The seven-time Super Bowl champion headlines the quarterback position, which also includes Peyton Manning and Patrick Mahomes.
“Nobody ever played so well for so long,” wrote ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz.
Brady played 20 seasons with the Patriots and three more with the Buccaneers after leaving New England. He has more Super Bowl wins than any franchise. Two of those wins came after age 40. Schatz noted that Manning was retired by 39.
The Patriots expedited the process for Brady’s admission into the Patriots Hall of Fame last summer and are set to unveil a statue of him outside of Gillette Stadium this August.
Randy Moss
Known for his blazing speed, leaping ability, one-handed catches, and graceful body control, Moss was one of the most entertaining receivers to play the game.
Schatz called Moss the “greatest receiver of the 21st century based on the eye test.”
His time with the Patriots was relatively short, with three full seasons in New England before being traded four games into the 2010 season. But, it was impactful.
Before the Patriots came up short in Super Bowl XLII, Moss and Brady led the Patriots to one of the greatest statistical seasons for an offense in NFL history.
Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, Terrell Owens, Mavin Harrison Sr. and Justin Jefferson also made the cut at receiver.
Rob Gronkowski
The post made a distinction between Gronkowski and Travis Kelce.
Kelce, ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder wrote, is the greatest “the best pure receiving tight end in this quarter century.” He has nearly 3,000 more receiving yards, and three more All-Pro selections than Gronkowski.
But, Gronkowski was more than just a pass-catcher. He was a “devastating blocker”, Schatz wrote. He was also a unique redzone threat, as evidenced by his 92 touchdown catches. Gronkowski also has four Super Bowl wins to Kelce’s three.
Vince Wilfork
Wilfork was the only nose tackle on the list.
They gave Wilfork his own category while going with three defensive tackles; Aaron Donald, Calais Campbell, and Chris Jones.
They wanted to recognize the difference between tackles who are great at getting after the quarterback, and great nose tackles such as Wilfork and Pittsburgh’s Casey Hampton who were elite at stuffing the run.
The other three defensive tackles on the list each had at least 80.5 career sacks. Wilfork had just 16 sacks in his career, but proved his value in other ways during his time with the Patriots.
Darrelle Revis
Revis won a Super Bowl during his only season with the Patriots in 2014. It was his only title.
He spent the bulk of his career with the rival Jets and built a reputation as a shutdown corner.
“Even the best receivers in the NFL disappeared on Revis Island,” Schatz wrote.
The four-time All-pro cornerback was inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor in 2022.
Matthew Slater
Belichick once called Slater the best core special teams player of all time. He played 16 seasons, all with the Patriots, specializing as a gunner.
The son of Pro Football Hall-of-Fame offensive tackle Jackie Slater, Matthew Slater made five all-pro teams and 10 Pro Bowls as a special teamer.
“The Patriots had above-average special teams DVOA every single season from 1996 through 2020,” Schatz wrote. “Slater was a huge factor in the second half of that streak as a gunner.”
Bill Belichick
Belichick’s postseason success gave him the nod over Andy Reid.
His six Super Bowl championships are unprecedented among head coaches, and he has two more from his time as defensive coordinator of the Giants.
Belichick, who now coaches college football at the University of North Carolina, is second on the all-time wins list for NFL head coaches.
Schatz highlighted Belichick’s versatility, mentioning that the Patriots won in a variety of ways, from offensive juggernauts to defensive-minded squads.
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