"Late in his tenure as Patriots' head coach, Bill Belichick did more harm than good. The last few years of the Belichick era were painful, to say the least. But among his free-agent splurge before the 2021 season, the Patriots brought in Hunter Henry to be that valuable tight end the Patriots hadn't had since Gronkowski's departure. Fast-forward to 2025, and Henry's presence continues to loom large in New England."
"For all the mistakes Belichick made toward the end of his tenure as the Patriots' head coach, signing Henry was the one bright spot. He's been a big reason why the Patriots have been so hot over the last month and a half, and his presence in the middle of the field and underneath is going to be a key factor to Drake Maye's success down the stretch."
"The Patriots didn't put forth their best effort against Atlanta, but found ways to win. One of them? Henry's big-time third-down catch late in the fourth quarter with the Falcons out of timeouts. A valuable tight end is often a quarterback's best friend, and Henry is"
Hunter Henry was signed in free agency before the 2021 season to provide the Patriots a valuable tight end presence lost after Rob Gronkowski's retirement. Henry has delivered clutch plays, including a late third-down catch to seal a win over Atlanta in 2025, contributing to a multi-game winning streak. The signing stands out as a successful move from Bill Belichick's late-era spending and has continued to benefit New England after his departure. Henry's ability to work in the middle of the field and underneath should aid rookie quarterback Drake Maye down the stretch.
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