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Vrabel Challenges Christian Barmore to Finish Plays as Patriots Prepare for 2026

Coaches say his return from a 2024 blood‑clot diagnosis has made him a key interior piece and they expect him to turn pressure into game-changing takedowns.

Overview

  • Barmore overcame a July 2024 diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and a December 2024 setback to be medically cleared and play a full 2025 season.
  • In 2025 he appeared in 17 regular‑season games, recorded two sacks and 29 combined tackles, and logged a career‑high 927 snaps including the postseason.
  • Defensive line coach Clint McMillan praised Barmore’s “massive improvement,” while Mike Vrabel publicly urged him to convert pressures into finished plays.
  • Barmore has taken part in spring OTA work and mandatory minicamp this year, is healthy heading into 2026, and remains under contract through the 2028 season.
  • The team balances high expectations for Barmore’s interior pass rush with past discipline and off‑field incidents, including a 2025 benching and a domestic‑assault case that prosecutors later dropped.