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Your guide to 2025 Patriots training camp: What to know if you go, what to watch for, and key dates
The Patriots will hold public practices July 23-26, July 28-31, and Aug. 4-6. Gates open each day at 9:15 a.m.
The Patriots are entering this season with their third coach in as many years, with franchise Hall of Famer Mike Vrabel taking charge of his first training camp in New England next week.
The real work to turn around the franchise begins on Wednesday with the first practice of camp, where fans can catch a glimpse of a new era of Patriots football for the first time.
Plenty of eyes will be on a revamped offense, as New England brought back offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and spent much of its draft capital on protecting and supporting quarterback Drake Maye.
Vrabel, meanwhile, will be looking to revitalize a defense that fell from seventh in total yards allowed in 2023 to 22nd last season.
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Here’s everything you need to know about Patriots training camp:
How to watch and public training camp dates
The Patriots will hold public practices July 23-26, July 28-31, and Aug. 4-6. Gates open each day at 9:15 a.m.
A decade ago, we put together a guide on how to watch training camp like a pro. Here is an abbreviated version:
· Pick a low vantage point for individual drills, a high one for team drills.
· Memorize the roster and jersey numbers cold.
· Take note of the pairings and combinations.
· Grade the one-on-one battles, and be descriptive.
· Take note of the game situations.
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· Listen to what the coaches are telling the players.
Top story lines
Will the offense around Drake Maye be enough?
Maye was the major bright spot in a terrible 2024 for the Patriots, as the No. 3 overall pick showed flashes of star potential despite limited weapons and a porous offensive line.
As Maye enters Year 2, the group around him is much improved. Along with the return of McDaniels to run the offense, New England bolstered the line by taking LSU left tackle Will Campbell No. 4 in this year’s draft, as well as signing veterans Garrett Bradbury (center) and Morgan Moses (right tackle). There are more weapons, too, with the additions of receivers Stefon Diggs (free agency) and Kyle Williams (draft), as well as second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson adding depth to the backfield.
With a potential gem under center in Maye, are the upgrades elsewhere enough for the Patriots to make the jump from one of the NFL’s worst offenses (30th in scoring, 31st in total yardage in 2024) to relative competence?
What can the Patriots get out of Stefon Diggs?
The biggest factor in any potential Patriots offensive resurgence may be the production of Diggs, who at his best would be a significant upgrade over any of Maye’s receivers last season.
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A four-time Pro Bowl selection from 2020-23, Diggs was having a strong season in 2024 in Houston before an ACL tear. Diggs racked up 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games for the Texans — on pace for 100 catches for 1,054 yards and six TDs over a full season — before he went down.
Diggs may be the biggest boom-or-bust piece of the offense as a 31-year-old trying to come back from his first major injury. He’s also had a bit of an unusual offseason off the field, which has raised some questions as he joins a young team in need of veteran leadership.
What does a Mike Vrabel Patriots team look like?
Vrabel will be tasked with making a quick turnaround in New England, as the 2021 NFL Coach of the Year looks to revive a franchise that has won eight games over the last two seasons.
For Vrabel, that starts with the defense, where the Patriots spent plenty of resources in free agency on players such as Milton Williams (four years, $104 million), Carlton Davis (three years, $54 million), and Harold Landry ($43.5 million).
Talent aside, the Patriots looked like a poorly coached team last season, and one of Vrabel’s biggest jobs will be bringing one of the NFL’s sloppiest teams back to relevance.
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Pet Adoption Day
The Patriots are hosting a “Pet Adoption Day” on the first day of camp on Wednesday with three animal shelters onsite for fans to meet and possibly adopt a dog.
“Patriots players will escort adoptable dogs onto the practice fields before practice begins,” the team said in a release. “Several preselected families will be introduced to their new Pawtriots pet to complete the adoption process and bring them home.”
Key NFL dates
· July 31: Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Lions vs. Chargers, 8 p.m. (NBC, Peacock).
· Aug. 26: Roster cutdown to 53 players. Keeping with the change made in 2023, there will be only one cutdown date, with teams allowed to carry 90 players before getting to 53.
Preseason schedule
The Patriots will play three preseason games, one at Gillette Stadium, all of which will be broadcast on WBZ-TV.
· Aug. 8 vs. Commanders, 7:30 p.m.
· Aug. 16 at Vikings, 1p.m.
· Aug. 21 at Giants, 8 p.m.
The Patriots will host a joint practice with the Commanders Aug. 6 ahead of their matchup at Gillette Stadium.
Fan guidelines
· Parking and admission are free. Practices are on the fields behind Gillette Stadium.
· The schedule is subject to change. Fans planning to attend should check Patriots.com for daily updates, or call the training camp hotline at 508-549-0001.
· When the Patriots practice indoors because of inclement weather or poor field conditions, practices will be closed to the public.
· There are concessions around the practice fields and the Fan Zone, as well as exhibits from the Patriots Hall of Fame. There will be appearances by Pat Patriot, Patriots cheerleaders, and Patriots alumni.
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· All fans entering the facility with a view of the practice fields will be screened with metal detectors and have all bags screened by security personnel. Fans are encouraged to use clear bags for speed of inspection.
· Prohibited items: animals (except service animals assisting those with disabilities), alcohol, beach balls, bullhorns and air horns, coolers, fireworks or pyrotechnics, helium balloons, illegal drugs or any other illegal substances, laser pens, noisemakers, video cameras, weapons of any kind (including knives), unmanned aircraft systems, remotely controlled model aircraft, selfie sticks, and GoPro cameras. Flags are allowed, but flagpoles cannot be more than 2 feet in length.
Driving directions
· From Boston and farther north: Take I-95 South to Exit 9. Follow Route 1 South approximately 3 miles to Gillette Stadium (on the left).
· From Cape Cod: Take I-495 North to Exit 14A. Follow Route 1 North about 4 miles to Gillette Stadium (on the right).
· From southern Connecticut and Rhode Island: Take I-95 North to I-495 North to Exit 14A. Follow Route 1 North about 4 miles to Gillette Stadium (on the right).
· From northern Connecticut, Vermont, and upstate New York: Take I-90 East to I-495 South to Exit 14A. Follow Route 1 North about 4 miles to Gillette Stadium (on the right).
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