SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Rhamondre Stevenson's 2025 redemption arc has played a key part in the Patriots' unexpected run to Super Bowl LX.
Few may have known, however, of the heartbreak he'd endured months before he and the New England Patriots stepped foot on an NFL field.
Stevenson lost his father, Robert, suddenly in March at only 54 years old, sending him into a world of pain that many experience but none desire. It happened at an uncertain time for him professionally, just weeks after New England hired a new coach in Mike Vrabel.
As Vrabel put it Wednesday, the circumstances were challenging for everyone.
"I think there's things that come up that you're not really prepared for, and to have Rhamondre have something that traumatic happen to him and his family, and him not know us as people, was hard," Vrabel said. "And to try to support somebody that – he doesn't know where we're coming from, he doesn't know Mike Vrabel, he doesn't know (running backs coach) Tony Dews – other than taking some faith that we're looking out for him as a person, and we're looking out for him and his family, and what's best and how they handle it, and try to do everything that we could to get him in a place that he could come, do his job, perform and glorify his dad.
"He's done that every single day. I'm proud of him. I can't imagine how that felt and what that still feels like. We're lucky to have people like Tony Dews who care deeply about not only his position but everybody on this football team, coaches and staff. And Tony – he would have gone the second that I told him. It was just like, give him a little bit of time. Let's just wait. And finally, it worked out for Tony to go out there and be with Rhamondre and his family. Obviously, very appreciative of Tony."
With Vrabel and Dews making a conscious, empathetic effort, Stevenson found support in the Patriots organization, leaning on teammates during an incredibly challenging period. One cohort, linebacker Jahlani Tavai, made sure he wouldn't let Stevenson sink into the darkness. Nearly a year later, Stevenson is quick to mention Tavai as one of the most important sources of support during his grieving process.
"They had so much support and they're so instrumental in where I am today and how I handle myself and carry myself with that situation," Stevenson said Wednesday. "I'll give it to Tavai, Jahlani Tavai. He was there for me a lot, just checking on me almost every day, man, just when I walked through that locker room, he just made sure I'm good, made sure my head was right. I appreciate him for that and I love him for that."
For Tavai, he knew it was the right thing to do.
"When I saw the news, I just wanted to check up on him," Tavai said Wednesday, taking lengthy pauses as his emotions bubbled to the surface. "Not sure if anybody did, but those times, losing somebody, you get put in a dark place. Sometimes you just need a helping hand, so however I was able to help, I just wanted to lend a helping hand."
Tavai was instinctively acting as a good teammate, but he'd had his own experience that informed him Stevenson might need more attention. Tavai lost a younger teammate from his days at Hawai'i, Scheyenne Sanitoa, and knew how the weight of such a tragic loss can bury a young player.
"I remember it like it was yesterday," Tavai said, reflecting on the summer of his rookie year. "During that time, I had a bunch of family and friends hit me up and check up on me. Those little things helped a lot."
When Stevenson struggled with ball security early in the season and felt the pressure of rookie second-rounder TreVeyon Henderson behind him on the depth chart, he could have folded. These Patriots wouldn't allow that to happen, though. They'd already surrounded him with love and support just as they were coming together as the team that eventually became AFC champions, a reality that they may not have achieved without Stevenson's second-half turnaround.
He knows he couldn't have gotten there without the undaunted backing of his teammates and coaches, including Henderson, who helped Stevenson deepen another previously underserved area of his life.
"He's just a great guy to talk to," Stevenson said. "He's gotten me deeper into faith and I appreciate him for that. I'm in that Bible a little more than I was a year ago today. I respect him for that, I love him for that and he's just a great light in that room.
"On the football field, you guys see, he's electric, great football player, shows up willing to learn every day and I like that about him."
Instead of exhibiting traits of a ruthless internal competition that often exists in professional sports, the Patriots have demonstrated the value of strength in numbers. Stevenson (and his stat line) serve as proof: After fumbling three times in his first five weeks, Stevenson didn't fumble again the rest of the season, piling up nine total touchdowns and 948 scrimmage yards.
"I think it has to do with everybody in the building, everybody at Gillette, they're always behind me, my teammates, the coaching staff, they never really lost confidence in me," Stevenson said. "That gives me some confidence to go out there and try to perform, try to bring value to this team. It could've went so different. Mike Vrabel had my back, he's gonna treat you how you treat the team and I feel like I treat the team pretty well, that's why he has my back. So I love it, I love the support they gave me. It just kept me going."
He'll hope to close his turnaround season with the greatest triumph of all. In that moment, he knows the emotions will rightfully flow. Tavai does, too.
"Rhamondre, man, I know how tough it must have been to carry that weight on his shoulders and now, to be here?" Tavai said. "Most people would probably shut down, but it seems like he had a really good support system. Hopefully a bunch of us hit him up and checked on him. I know Vrabel did. It's just a hard situation, but I told him no matter what, I got his back."
