The New England Patriots’ kickoff return unit, a total snooze-fest last season, just woke up with a jolt, and guess what? Our very own Seahawks were there to see it last week. These guys were ranked a dismal 19th in the NFL in 2025, chugging along at 25.5 yards per runback. They threw seven different players at the problem, trying to find a spark. But when they rolled into the opener against our boys, that number jumped to a much more respectable 26.8 yards per runback. Yeah, I know, it’s a tiny sample size, but even head coach Mike Vrabel was already seeing some serious positives.
From Struggle Bus to Kickoff King?
Last year was rough. Their main return guy, Antonio Gibson, got hit with a torn ACL, totally blowing up their plans. After that, they were scrambling, tossing guys like Efton Chism, D’Ernest Johnson, TreVeyon Henderson, Terrell Jennings, Rhamondre Stevenson, and even Kyle Williams out there. Nobody really stuck. But last Wednesday, the picture looked different. Williams, a 2025 third-round draft pick, was back there with practice squad running back Lan Larison, and Williams delivered. He ran back two kicks, busting them for exactly 29 yards on *both*. That’s a 2.6-yard improvement compared to his 2025 regular season average, and he even tacked on 0.8 expected points for his squad. That’s making an impact.
Coach Vrabel didn’t hold back with the props either. He told the media that Williams “ran decisively” and “didn’t look timid” out there. He also threw some respect toward Reggie Gilliam, pointing out Gilliam’s strength “whether he’s playing at the front line, whether he’s playing as an off returner.” Vrabel laid it all out: “The timing of all these plays, it’s so critical that the returners can judge it, get moving into the football and not be backing up with their hips going back, and then they catch the ball; now the coverage has already started and the timing’s off.” He’s clearly looking for consistency and hoping they can “clean some of those things up” moving forward.
“Comfortability” Unlocks the Field
Williams himself explained what’s driving this early-season surge. He broke it down at his locker, saying this jump isn’t just about hitting bigger numbers; it’s all about a new “comfortability with the new kickoff.” He admitted, “You come from college, and you don’t really do too much special teams in college.” Transitioning to the pros is a whole different ballgame, and his second year is clearly where it’s clicking: “being able to transition to do that in the league and going into the second year, it’s a lot more comfortability for where I can hit those gaps.”
He didn’t stop there, either. Williams emphasized, “I know what I’m looking for. I know where my track should be. I know where my blocks are going to be set up at. And so, when you are able to know that, your running style is able to transition. It makes things a lot easier.” That’s a player who’s got the game figured out. For a Patriots team that was utterly lost in the kickoff return game last year, Williams’ early-season performance, even if it was against our beloved Seahawks, is a serious indicator. It shouts that this unit might finally have the spark it desperately needed. Keep an eye on Williams; a confident and decisive player like him could totally change the game for their special teams going forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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