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New Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane

The New England Patriots added a linebacker who recorded 158 tackles last season, which tied for the third most in the league, and has been making his mark in Foxborough so far.

The Patriots and Robert Spillane agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract, reuniting with former head coach Mike Vrabel — Vrabel signed Spillane as an undrafted free agent back in 2018 with the Tennessee Titans.

Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport names Spillane as one of the winners of the team’s organized team activities.

“If New England’s new-look defense is going to jell with so many new faces, the unit will need a leader—someone to step up and take control. Spillane has wasted no time doing just that, garnering the respect of his teammates in the process,” Davenport wrote for B/R.

Spillane played for the Las Vegas Raiders for the last two seasons. In his two seasons in Sin City, the linebacker recorded over 300 tackles.

Robert Spillane Making Plays at OTAs

GettyPatriots linebacker Robert Spillane

The newest addition to the Patriots’ linebacker group has been making plays so far in offseason training.

Patriots staff writer Evan Lazar was impressed with Robert Spillane after mandatory minicamp. Here’s what he had to say:

“Spillane’s instincts, processing and motor make him a nice pairing behind a playmaking defensive line. The communication seemed good as well, with Spillane possibly wearing the green dot.”

The linebacker spoke to the media on May 28 and shared his thoughts on Vrabel and his coaching style.

“He’s very transparent, intense, straight to the point. You know what to expect, which is something I love as a player,” Spillane said. “All you want is clarity. All you want is clear messaging and that messaging stays true; it’s who he is. So he doesn’t have to fake it, he gets to be his true self every day.”

Pro Football Focus named Robert Spillane as the 23rd-best linebacker heading into the 2025-26 season.

Mike Vrabel on Spillane

GettyNew England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel

At the introductory press conference of multiple new Patriot signings, Mike Vrabel explained why Robert Spillane made the Titans as a trial player.

“We went out to practice, he didn’t make any mental errors, he was athletic, he was excellent in his open field tackling drill,” Vrabel said. “It got to be a joke where we just keep throwing him in. We’ll be like, ‘hey, let’s see if somebody can make Spillane miss.”

“[Former Titans general manager] Jon Robinson and I were just like, ‘we have to have him on the football team.’”

Vrabel said he is not surprised about the career Robert Spillane has had based on how he began with the Tennessee Titans.

Spillane has said that it is a full circle moment against with Mike Vrabel and not wanting to let him down.

Jason Garcia Jason Garcia is a sports contributor for Heavy Sports who joined the team in 2025, covering the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.  He is also covers college basketball for MidMajorBasketball.com. More about Jason Garcia