Overview
- Jack Gibbens became an unrestricted free agent at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday after New England declined his restricted tender, as first reported by the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.
- Gibbens played all 17 regular-season games in 2025 with eight starts, logging 491 defensive snaps and posting 81 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four passes defensed.
- He was a core special-teamer, finishing third on the team with 357 snaps in the kicking game and tying for fifth with 10 special-teams tackles.
- Pats Pulpit notes the declined tender would have cost at least $3.52 million, signaling cost control as the club refines its depth chart.
- The Patriots have already added linebacker K.J. Britt on a one-year deal, and coverage indicates a return for Gibbens could still be possible on a lower-cost contract.