The New England Patriots did not tender linebacker Jack Gibbens on Wednesday afternoon. This now makes him an unrestricted free agent. The Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed reported this.
Gibbens was a major player for the Patriots last season. He had 81 total tackles, a sack, eight tackles for loss, four passes defended, and a forced fumble. The linebacker also made an impact on special teams, recording 10 special-teams tackles. He became the first Patriots player since Matthew Slater to record back-to-back games with at least three special-teams tackles.
His defensive prowess also shone brightly in the Super Bowl. He had 19 tackles across four playoff games. This included four tackles in Super Bowl LX.
The Patriots did not tender LB Jack Gibbens as a restricted free agent, per source.
That makes Gibbens an unrestricted free agent now that the new league year has begun.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) March 11, 2026
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Gibbens made his mark before New England Patriots
Gibbens began his career with the Tennessee Titans in 2022. He sighed with the organization as an undrafted rookie. He was the primary starter by the 2023 season, and he led the team with 95 tackles. The season was cut short due to an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve.
His final season in Tennessee saw him play in 10 games with five stars. He had a productive year, before he had season-ending ankle surgery in November. He had 44 total tackles and a half-sack
He was able to parlay his success in Tennessee into a large role with the Patriots. He sighed with the team in March and immediately made an impact.
Health was not an issue for him last season either. He appeared in all 17 regular-season games and recorded some milestones along the way. He recorded his first sack in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills, as he sacked Josh Allen for a six-yard loss. He parlayed that into a solid game the next week against the Baltimore Ravens. He led the team with 10 tackles and a 28-24 victory on Sunday Night Football.
The linebacker then finished the season strong in Week 18 against the Miami Dolphins. He was able to force the first fumble of his career during the second quarter.
The New England Patriots Could Bring Him Back
This could be a situation where the Patriots bring him back after hitting the market. He was a key part of the linebacker group. The linebacker stepped up, especially following the injuries to Robert Spillane, among other starters. Gibbens was able to find his groove towards the back half of the regular season and gave the Patriots’ flexibility.
The Patriots have undergone changes on all sides of the football over the course of the last couple days. Gibbens would be a player that they could ideally retain. He showed defensive prowess as well as the ability to make plays last season and stepped up when needed.
It will be interesting to see what the Patriots do here, as they have had some moving parts defensively. Gibbens is a guy who played a key role in the Patriots’ defense last year. Furthermore, he also showed that he could stay healthy. He is coming off what was a stellar season for both him and the team. Retaining him would be a smart move.
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