The New England Patriots added linebacker K.J. Britt to a one-year contract this offseason. It will be his third stop in the NFL, but this one has a personal connection for him, as he joins New England, where his former teammate, Tom Brady, became a legend.
Britt came into the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021 as a fifth-round pick. It was a season removed from Brady’s championship with the Tampa Bay Super Bowl, but it did allow Britt to play with the future Hall of Fame quarterback. There, even on the opposite side of the field, he had plenty of ability to learn.
“Being able to play with Tom and knowing that’s the formula, you know that helped him and his career,” Britt said. “He commanded the field. When he took the field, he had an aura around him, it was like, ‘Here we go.’ It was just good, I was young, I was a young player then know, our young player then. So (I) really didn’t know, thought it was a standard.”
Britt would remember Brady’s return to New England, in particular. In bad weather, he won a gutsy game over the Patriots.
“When you see stuff like that, you want to go try to duplicate it,” Britt said. “But, you know, Tom had his own story. … Tom is the one, probably the greatest quarterback, but you also have to learn that he did it his way.”
Brady taught Britt plenty just by his example. That is year-round preparation that Brady became famous for, which he is now trying to implement for himself.
“He worked and he took care of his body and did stuff his way. So you got to learn how to use it for you,” Britt said. “Everything that worked for Tom probably won’t work for you. Just to watch him and just play with him, man, it was a treat.”
K.J. Britt on Choosing to go to the New England Patriots
GettyK.J. Britt with Tampa Bay
A one-year deal anywhere in the NFL is an opportunity for a player to prove themselves, but it’s far from long-term job security. K.J. Britt knows that, of course, and he also knows that the standard is the standard for the Patriots.
“Everybody knows this is a historic organization. Six rings, a lot of winning that’s been going on,” Britt said. “You don’t really got to ask much.”
Importantly, Britt has the opportunity to play for Mike Vrabel, a linebacker in his own day and a player’s coach. The hope is that the two can pair up and create a spark in Britt’s young career.
Britt would even go on to admit that was a big reason why he chose New England, saying, “Yeah. Yeah, he did,” when asked if Vrabel played into his decision to sign with the Patriots.
What Role Will K.J. Britt Play for the Patriots?
GettyNew England Patriots free agent linebacker K.J. Britt
When the Patriots signed K.J. Britt this offseason, the hope was that he could bring much-needed depth and some youth to the team’s linebacker room. That’s in particular after New England moved on from Jahlani Tavai and Anfernee Jennings.
Britt played in 17 games and made 35 total tackles with the Miami Dolphins last season. That came a year after he had 72 total tackles in 2024, while he was still with Tampa Bay.
Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss will certainly still be playing ahead of Britt. However, he can offer the Patriots depth on defense, particularly if injuries once again become a concern for the team’s linebacker room at some point.
Patriots LB K.J. Britt Reflects on Playing with Tom Brady, Choosing New England