Patriots running back is set to make an unexpected run at franchise history

Musket Fire · Jul 21, 2026 17:00 · 3 min read

Patriots running back is set to make an unexpected run at franchise history — Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) runs against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Patriots' offseason objective was to fortify the running game by adding blockers. The soon to be top four all-time Patriots rushing back, Rhamondre Stevenson will be a prime participant in that aspect of the 2026 offense.

The New England Patriots set about this offseason to provide an enhanced running game to complement the brilliant passing of Drake Maye. They signed a top free-agent blocking tight end, Julian Hill, and also a throwback free-agent blocking fullback, Reggie Gilliam.

The objective in signing these players was a clear statement of intent to energize a more powerful rushing attack.

While Hill's season-ending injury puts a crimp in those plans, the Patriots still have two backs they can count on to make things happen. They are veteran big back Rhamondre Stevenson and second-year flash TreVeyon Henderson.

ESPN's Mike Reiss pointed out an interesting statistic about sixth-year Patriots' running back, Stevenson. The veteran is knocking on the statistical door of Patriots' all-time greatness in rushing yards, and he's about to join some very elite company.

Rhamondre Stevenson is one of the Patriots all-time best running backs

Reiss shed light on a statistic that puts Stevenson in very lofty company among all-time Patriots' running backs.

"Stevenson enters the 2026 season in fifth place in team history with 3,669 rushing yards, and he needs 331 yards to join Sam Cunningham (5,453), Jim Nance (5,323) and Tony Collins (4,647) as the only Patriots players to reach 4,000 rushing yards."

Putting Stevenson in the company of great Patriots fullbacks of the past, Sam Cunningham and Jim Nance, and tailback Tony Collins says volumes about how effective he's been during his first five years with the team.

As Reiss points out, Stevenson, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 draft, has gained 3,669 yards in his first five seasons, an average of 733 yards per season.

While those statistics aren't earth-shattering by any means, they do depict a steady back who can be counted upon to deliver solid performances game to game. Stevenson's healthy 4.4 yards per carry for his career points that out demonstrably. He's a big back whose forte is running inside for tough yards and occasionally breaking a run for bigger chunks of yardage.

Stevenson's style complements his running mate, Henderson perfectly. In a thunder-and-lightning approach, the big-back Stevenson can grind out tough inside yardage while the electric Henderson explodes for big runs. The second-year back is a threat to take-it-to-the-house every time he has his hands on the ball.

Coach Mike Vrabel is fortunate to have inherited a top back in Stevenson, whose only rap has been his propensity to put the ball on the ground, as his 7 fumbles demonstrated. Regardless, when he holds onto the rock, as he did in 2025, he's a Gibraltar of a solid running back.

Stevenson and his running mate, Henderson, present a prime complement to the irrepressible Maye, who, now armed with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, is threatening to rip the NFL to shreds. The objective was to fortify the running game to take pressure off Maye and keep defenses honest.

The soon-to-be all-time top-four Patriots running back, Rhamondre Stevenson, will be a prime participant in that aspect of what will likely be a monster 2026 Patriots' offense.