Chad Graff
@chadgraff.bsky.social
Senior writer at The Athletic covering the Patriots. Adjunct professor at Northeastern. High-handicapped golfer, low-rated tennis player, seeker of a good old fashioned.
The Patriots have nearly a 90 percent chance of winning the AFC East, per @theathletic.com’s playoff predictor. www.nytimes.com/athletic/nfl...
November 11, 2025 at 6:11 PM
The Patriots have nearly a 90 percent chance of winning the AFC East, per @theathletic.com’s playoff predictor. www.nytimes.com/athletic/nfl...
Beautiful November day for football as the Patriots look for a sixth straight win.
November 2, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Beautiful November day for football as the Patriots look for a sixth straight win.
In a stretch of crazy games from Drake Maye, today's stood out as the best of the bunch as his MVP season rolls on. Story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
October 27, 2025 at 12:03 AM
In a stretch of crazy games from Drake Maye, today's stood out as the best of the bunch as his MVP season rolls on. Story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
Beautiful day for football.
Will be very interested to see how the Patriots’ O-line holds up today. They’ve been much better than expected so far this season. But this task against the Browns is their toughest yet.
Will be very interested to see how the Patriots’ O-line holds up today. They’ve been much better than expected so far this season. But this task against the Browns is their toughest yet.
October 26, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Beautiful day for football.
Will be very interested to see how the Patriots’ O-line holds up today. They’ve been much better than expected so far this season. But this task against the Browns is their toughest yet.
Will be very interested to see how the Patriots’ O-line holds up today. They’ve been much better than expected so far this season. But this task against the Browns is their toughest yet.
Mike Vrabel has turned the Patriots into legit contenders.
Story on the crazy turnaround that has the Patriots 5-2: www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
Story on the crazy turnaround that has the Patriots 5-2: www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
October 20, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Mike Vrabel has turned the Patriots into legit contenders.
Story on the crazy turnaround that has the Patriots 5-2: www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
Story on the crazy turnaround that has the Patriots 5-2: www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
Mike Vrabel inherited a Patriots franchise that was 8-34 in the last two years.
Now, after beating his former team, Vrabel jogs off the field as the Patriots are 5-2 in what was supposed to be Year 1 of this rebuild.
Now, after beating his former team, Vrabel jogs off the field as the Patriots are 5-2 in what was supposed to be Year 1 of this rebuild.
October 19, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Mike Vrabel inherited a Patriots franchise that was 8-34 in the last two years.
Now, after beating his former team, Vrabel jogs off the field as the Patriots are 5-2 in what was supposed to be Year 1 of this rebuild.
Now, after beating his former team, Vrabel jogs off the field as the Patriots are 5-2 in what was supposed to be Year 1 of this rebuild.
Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez was limited at practice due to a hamstring injury.
That’s obviously concerning for a couple reasons. 1. Gonzalez didn’t have an injury designation yesterday. 2. A hamstring injury recently sidelined him 6 weeks.
That’s obviously concerning for a couple reasons. 1. Gonzalez didn’t have an injury designation yesterday. 2. A hamstring injury recently sidelined him 6 weeks.
October 9, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez was limited at practice due to a hamstring injury.
That’s obviously concerning for a couple reasons. 1. Gonzalez didn’t have an injury designation yesterday. 2. A hamstring injury recently sidelined him 6 weeks.
That’s obviously concerning for a couple reasons. 1. Gonzalez didn’t have an injury designation yesterday. 2. A hamstring injury recently sidelined him 6 weeks.
The Patriots haven't scored 40+ since the 2021 season.
They're at 35 points with 10 minutes left in the *third* quarter.
They're at 35 points with 10 minutes left in the *third* quarter.
September 28, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The Patriots haven't scored 40+ since the 2021 season.
They're at 35 points with 10 minutes left in the *third* quarter.
They're at 35 points with 10 minutes left in the *third* quarter.
Drake Maye is good.
September 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Drake Maye is good.
Here's a look at the players with the most punt return yards in a game since 2000.
Marcus Jones already has 148 at halftime. (But who knows if the Panthers will punt to him again.)
Marcus Jones already has 148 at halftime. (But who knows if the Panthers will punt to him again.)
September 28, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Here's a look at the players with the most punt return yards in a game since 2000.
Marcus Jones already has 148 at halftime. (But who knows if the Panthers will punt to him again.)
Marcus Jones already has 148 at halftime. (But who knows if the Panthers will punt to him again.)
The Patriots haven't had a game like this where they were just clearly the better team in quite some time.
Here are the six games they've won by 14+ since the start of the 2022 season.
Here are the six games they've won by 14+ since the start of the 2022 season.
September 28, 2025 at 6:27 PM
The Patriots haven't had a game like this where they were just clearly the better team in quite some time.
Here are the six games they've won by 14+ since the start of the 2022 season.
Here are the six games they've won by 14+ since the start of the 2022 season.
It’s weird to say about a Week 4 game against the Panthers … but this feels like a big one for the Patriots.
Have to avoid a 1-3 start before heading to Buffalo for a primetime matchup.
A reasonable goal for September was always 2-2.
Have to avoid a 1-3 start before heading to Buffalo for a primetime matchup.
A reasonable goal for September was always 2-2.
September 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM
It’s weird to say about a Week 4 game against the Panthers … but this feels like a big one for the Patriots.
Have to avoid a 1-3 start before heading to Buffalo for a primetime matchup.
A reasonable goal for September was always 2-2.
Have to avoid a 1-3 start before heading to Buffalo for a primetime matchup.
A reasonable goal for September was always 2-2.
The Patriots fumbled away a chance at an impressive win and a record above .500 in a frustrating loss to the Steelers. Story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
September 22, 2025 at 10:27 AM
The Patriots fumbled away a chance at an impressive win and a record above .500 in a frustrating loss to the Steelers. Story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
A lengthy Patriots injury report with nine players limited.
But the big news: Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) participated in practice for the first time in 51 days.
But the big news: Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) participated in practice for the first time in 51 days.
September 17, 2025 at 8:30 PM
A lengthy Patriots injury report with nine players limited.
But the big news: Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) participated in practice for the first time in 51 days.
But the big news: Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) participated in practice for the first time in 51 days.
Mike Vrabel made it sound like Christian Gonzalez won’t practice today.
Vrabel didn’t rule him out for Sunday but hard to envision him playing since he hasn’t practiced since July 28.
Vrabel didn’t rule him out for Sunday but hard to envision him playing since he hasn’t practiced since July 28.
September 3, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Mike Vrabel made it sound like Christian Gonzalez won’t practice today.
Vrabel didn’t rule him out for Sunday but hard to envision him playing since he hasn’t practiced since July 28.
Vrabel didn’t rule him out for Sunday but hard to envision him playing since he hasn’t practiced since July 28.
A look at the Patriots’ new alternate uniforms for Thursday Night Football in November.
August 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
A look at the Patriots’ new alternate uniforms for Thursday Night Football in November.
Dan Quinn in Foxboro for joint practice with the Patriots: “Pumped to be here.”
August 6, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Dan Quinn in Foxboro for joint practice with the Patriots: “Pumped to be here.”
Mike Vrabel on Christian Gonzalez’s apparent left hamstring injury: “I wouldn’t expect him here this week.”
July 30, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Mike Vrabel on Christian Gonzalez’s apparent left hamstring injury: “I wouldn’t expect him here this week.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is here at Patriots practice today alongside Mike Vrabel.
July 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla is here at Patriots practice today alongside Mike Vrabel.
Why does Kyle Williams make tons of sense for the Patriots?
Last year, only the Browns had fewer explosive passing plays.
Last year, only the Browns had fewer explosive passing plays.
April 26, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Why does Kyle Williams make tons of sense for the Patriots?
Last year, only the Browns had fewer explosive passing plays.
Last year, only the Browns had fewer explosive passing plays.
Here's the breakdown from our free agency guide on new Patriots LB Robert Spillane.
March 10, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Here's the breakdown from our free agency guide on new Patriots LB Robert Spillane.
The Patriots rank 31st of 32 teams in the NFLPA’s annual survey. Here’s how they ranked in the categories.
February 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
The Patriots rank 31st of 32 teams in the NFLPA’s annual survey. Here’s how they ranked in the categories.
Caught up with Robert Kraft in New Orleans. Here's what he said on the Patriots hiring Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator.
February 8, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Caught up with Robert Kraft in New Orleans. Here's what he said on the Patriots hiring Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator.
The Patriots announced their full coaching staff. There are 22 assistants on Mike Vrabel’s staff, notably bigger than the ones Belichick preferred.
February 5, 2025 at 10:43 PM
The Patriots announced their full coaching staff. There are 22 assistants on Mike Vrabel’s staff, notably bigger than the ones Belichick preferred.
The Patriots are getting ready to welcome their new head coach.
January 13, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The Patriots are getting ready to welcome their new head coach.