Patriots Release Former 1,000-Yard RB Ahead of NFL Free Agency
The New England Patriots’ comeback season that culminated in a trip to Super Bowl LX ended in disappointment, falling 29–13 to the Seattle Seahawks and ending a 2025 campaign many in Foxborough called a return to relevance.
That run, which saw the team flip a 4–13 year into an AFC title and a berth in the league’s biggest game, now gives way to a roster shakeup in the early stages of the 2026 NFL offseason.
On Monday, that transition took a tangible step forward when New England reportedly released veteran running back Antonio Gibson, who suffered a torn ACL early in the year.
The move clears immediate roster space and frees approximately $3.1 million in 2026 salary cap room.
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Gibson signed a three-year, $11.2 million deal with the Patriots in March 2025, including $5.3 million in guarantees and an average annual value of $3.7 million.
Yet, Gibson’s injury significantly reduced his availability, appearing in just five games in 2025, and diminished his value within a Patriots backfield already anchored by Rhamondre Stevenson and explosive rookie TreVeyon Henderson.
With New England coming off a Super Bowl loss and balancing short-term depth against long-term flexibility, the math favored moving on.
Releasing him now limits the dead-money hit while restoring cap flexibility, resources that could be redirected toward offensive line reinforcements, additional weapons for quarterback Drake Maye, or an impact edge rusher as the team looks to close the final gap exposed in the Super Bowl.
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Drafted in 2020, Gibson broke out in 2021 as a legitimate three-down weapon, rushing for 1,037 yards with 294 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns for the Washington Commanders.
The burst, contact balance, and pass-catching versatility that defined that season still profile well in today’s RB market and should keep him on teams’ radar once his ACL rehab timeline becomes clearer.
