The New England Patriots released linebacker Jahlani Tavai on Monday morning. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported this.
Tavai appeared in 17 games for the Patriots last season. He recorded 26 tackles in 12 games, starting in seven of those games. Started the season on injured reserve, but was able to bounce back in the latter half and play a role in leading the Patriots to Super Bowl LX.
Tavai most recently signed a contract extension with the Patriots in July 2024. The deal was a three-year, $15 million contract.
Now, he will be looking to take that veteran leadership elsewhere, as Breer alluded to.
The Patriots continue to clear the decks, releasing LB Jahlani Tavai this morning ahead of the start of free agency, per source.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 9, 2026
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Tavai Had Unique Career With New England Patriots
His career with the Patriots began in a unique way. He was claimed off the Detroit Lions’ practice squad in 2021. From there, he became one of the key pieces of the Patriots’ linebacker room. He really begins to earn his proverbial stripes in 2022, as he found his way into a starting role by week five of the 2022 season. The linebacker also carved out a role on special teams early in his Patriots career.
2025 was a difficult season for him, as he battled a rare autoimmune disease and soft tissue injuries. He received the Ed Block Courage Award for overcoming these challenges.
Assessing The New England Patriots Linebackers
The New England Patriots’ linebacker room will look different without Tavai. With that being said, they still have several options at the position. The position itself is headlined by veteran Robert Spillane, who led the team with 97 tackles last year. Linebacker Christian Elliss also remains under contract with the team. He had a big year for the organization as well in 2025. The playmaker recorded 94 total tackles and three passes defensed on the year.
The organization also has to make decisions with several linebackers in addition to Tavai. Jack Gibbens is a restricted free agent heading into this week. He was also a major part of what the team did at the linebacker position last season. The former Tennessee Titans star recorded 81 tackles in 17 games, eight of which he started.
This is certainly an intriguing move. Tavai was a key veteran player for the first couple of years with the organization. Injuries played a big part in his performance last year, but there’s no denying what he was able to contribute to the defense in his previous seasons.
This free agency timeframe is expected to be a busy one for the Patriots organization. There will be plenty of moves and movement over the course of the next couple of days. Upgrading the defense is going to be a storyline to watch this week. One has to wonder if this move is an effort to make room monetarily for a bigger move. In any event, this is an opportunity for the Patriots to reset the linebacker room. It’s not as if the room needs a complete overhaul. It has solid pieces in Spillane and Elliss among others. Now, this allows them to get additional talent in the fold and continue building that defense.
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