The NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame have announced their roster for the 2010s All-Decade Team. This roster included starters and backups at nearly every position, totaling 52 players and two head coaches. Each of these players/coaches is considered one of the best the NFL had to offer during the last 10 seasons, and some will even be regarded as the best in the history of the sport.
Nobody enjoyed more success over the last decade than the New England Patriots. This starts at the top of the ladder with owner Robert Kraft, but it was continued and executed by the coaches and players on the field and in the locker room.
As expected, the Patriots were heavily featured on the All-Decade Team. These nine players/coaches spent at least part of the decade with New England.
HC Bill Belichick (2010-2019)
This was the most obvious choice of everyone that made the list. Belichick coached the Patriots for the entirety of the 2010s and was, far and away, the best coach in the league. Examples of this can be seen in his 125-35 (.781) record during the regular season and 16-7 (.696) record in the playoffs during the decade. Oh, and that includes three more Super Bowls.
With this honor, Belichick became the second coach in NFL history to be named to two All-Decade Teams, as former Steelers’ coach Chuck Noll was named to the 1970s and 1980s All-Decade Teams.
QB Tom Brady (2010-2019)
Brady dominated this past decade just like he did the prior decade, joining Belichick as the only Patriots appearing on both All-Decade Teams. In the 2010s, Brady was fourth in passing yards and second in passing touchdowns. His second trio of Super Bowl victories put him over the top and earned him the spot on this team.
The Patriots will be entering a season without Brady as their starter for the first time since 2002, as he begins his 21st NFL season with a new team.
K Stephen Gostkowski (2010-2019)
Gostkowski appeared in 140 games with the Patriots during the 2010s. He was fourth in the decade in field goal percentage (88.3%) and second for kickers with a minimum of 150 attempts. He became the Patriots all-time scoring leader (1,775) back in 2014, surpassing Adam Vinatieri who was on the 2000s All-Decade Team.
The Patriots released Gostkowski this offseason and will enter the season with a new kicker for the first time since 2006.
TE Rob Gronkowski (2010-2018)
Gronkowski played 115 games all with the Patriots in the 2010s. He was second in receiving yards by a tight end (7,861) in the decade behind Jimmy Graham (7,883) despite playing in 38 fewer games. Gronkowski recorded 79 touchdowns, the most by a tight end in the 2010s. His clutch receiving and offensive lineman-like blocking helped the Patriots on their way to three Super Bowls during his tenure and earned him a spot on the NFL’s All-Time Team.
OLB Chandler Jones (2012-2015)
The Patriots traded up to get Jones in 2012, and it was clearly the right move. While Jones didn’t finish his rookie contract with New England, he was an above-average pass rusher, totaling 36 sacks in his four seasons. He’d go onto become one of the premier pass rushers in the game in Arizona, recording 60 more sacks and receiving two First-team All-Pro nominations.
OG Logan Mankins (2010-2013)
Mankins played 50 games with the Patriots in the 2010s before being traded to Tampa Bay to finish out his career. From 2010-2013, Mankins was a Pro-Bowl guard and earned one First-team All-Pro nomination. While he never won a Super Bowl, he was an integral part of the years in between.
CB Darrelle Revis (2014-2014)
Revis was named a First-team All-Pro in his lone season with the Patriots in 2014. He was exactly what the Patriots needed to put their defense over the top and become a true championship contender that year. His efforts as a legitimate lockdown cornerback helped New England secure a Super Bowl 49 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
WR/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (2018-2018)
Patterson spent the 2018 season with the Patriots (15 games), primarily as the team’s kick returner. He ran back one kick for a touchdown against the Bears in Week 7. On offense, Patterson didn’t add much, but his versatile skill set did allow him to take snaps at both wide receiver and running back.
WR Antonio Brown (2019-2019)
Brown played in one game for the Patriots in the 2010s. He recorded four receptions, for 56 yards and a touchdown in a Week 2 matchup with the Dolphins. The wide receiver spent just 11 days in New England before he was released due to his involvement in a civil lawsuit for sexual assault and sending threatening text messages.
