Streicher, by the way, is a walking, talking reminder of the Belichickian model. Working for Vrabel in Tennessee, he rose from special assistant to the head coach in 2018 to director of football administration five years later; the same title Belichick’s assistant, Berj Najarian, once held.

The New England Patriots had high hopes for Rhamondre Stevenson in 2024. After signing him to a four-year, $36 million contract extension in the offseason, they expected the fourth-year running back to become the catalyst behind their offense.