As the New England Patriots prepare to take the field for Super Bowl 60, the parallels between this squad and the 2001 team that launched a two-decade dynasty have become impossible to ignore. Much like that original championship group, these Patriots have transformed from a last-place team into a title contender in a single calendar year, defying long odds and low expectations to emerge as the AFC’s newest power.

As the organization stands on the precipice of its first title in the post-Belichick era, the feeling in New England is about the rebirth of a familiar culture that the NFL world became way too used to.

Here’s more on the similarities between the two teams as the Patriots get ready for Super Bowl 60.

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2001 and 2025 Patriots comparison

There are tons of similarities between the young Patriots of both eras.

The most striking mirror image lies under center, where Drake Maye has captured the league’s imagination in his second season. While Maye possesses way more mobility than Brady did, the core philosophy remains the same: a young, gifted quarterback operating within a system that prioritizes efficiency, accuracy, and poise under fire.

Even the path to the championship game carries a sense of déjà vu. This year’s run was defined by an improbable 14-3 regular season and a snowy, low-scoring defensive battle in the AFC Championship that felt like a direct callback to the franchise’s early postseason heroics. Both teams won the AFC Championship game on the road, and both teams had to win a playoff game in heavy snow.

The 2001 Patriots had just one All-Pro, punt returner Troy Brown, while this season’s Patriots have just two in Maye and DB Christian Gonzalez. Bill Belichick was in his second year with the Patriots after being fired in his first job by the Cleveland Browns in 2001, and Mike Vrabel is in his first year with the Patriots after getting fired from his first job with the Tennessee Titans. Very few players on both teams had playoff experience before their Super Bowl run.

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Tom Brady vs. Drake Maye stats

While Maye’s regular season was far more statistically explosive than Brady’s 2001 campaign, their postseason paths have been remarkably similar in one key area: neither has been asked to carry the heavy lifting.

In 2001, the Patriots’ defense and special teams famously propelled the team through the playoffs, including the “Tuck Rule” game and a defensive masterclass in Pittsburgh where Brady actually left the game due to injury. He reached his first Super Bowl without throwing a touchdown pass in the two playoff games, serving as a steady hand while the veteran roster around him dictated the results.

It’s similar to Maye’s 2025 postseason run. Through three playoff games, Maye’s completion percentage has dipped significantly from his regular-season average, and he has leaned heavily on his rushing ability and a suffocating defensive unit that has outscored opposing offenses at times.

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