The 2006 season was the New England Patriots' 37th in the National Football League (NFL), their 47th overall and their seventh under head coach Bill Belichick. They finished with a 12–4 record and a division title before losing to the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs.
The Patriots entered the season without their two starting wide receivers from 2005; David Givens left in free agency while Deion Branch held out for a new contract before being traded in early September. They were eventually replaced with Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney, who was signed as a street free agent in October. Back-to-back losses in November ended the team's streak of 57 games without consecutive losses, three games shy of the NFL record. The field surface of Gillette Stadium was changed from natural grass to Field Turf in time for the November 26 game against Chicago.
With a 12–4 record and their fourth straight division title, the Patriots entered the playoffs as the fourth seed. They defeated the New York Jets in the wild-card round. A close win over the top-seeded 14–2 San Diego Chargers on the road in the divisional round set the Patriots up to face their rival Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game. Despite opening up a 21–3 lead, the Patriots stumbled down the stretch at the RCA Dome and the Colts emerged with a 38–34 victory, from which they would go on to win Super Bowl XLI.
This would be the last year the Patriots would win a Wild Card game until 2025. For many years, this was primarily due to securing the no. 1 or no. 2 seed and receiving the first-round bye when entering the playoffs. They would play in a total of three more Wild Card games before 2025, losing all three of them. These games occurred in 2009, 2019 and 2021.
Offseason
Staff changes First-year defensive coordinator Eric Mangini was hired to be head coach of the New York Jets, marking the second year in a row that New England's defensive coordinator was hired as a head coach. He would be replaced as defensive coordinator by Dean Pees, who had been linebackers coach for the club the past two years and as secondary coach by assistant secondary coach Joel Collier. Assistant offensive line coach Matt Patricia was moved to linebackers coach to replace Pees. Quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels was promoted to offensive coordinator after New England went one season without replacing former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. Defensive coaching assistant Mike Judge was moved to an offensive coaching assistant, while Josh Boyer and Kevin Bickers joined the coaching staff as defensive and special teams coaching assistants, respectively.
Departures Free agency saw multiple departures for the Patriots, including long-time kicker Adam Vinatieri signing with the Indianapolis Colts, and wide receiver David Givens signing with the Tennessee Titans. Linebacker Willie McGinest, the Patriots' first-round pick in the 1994 NFL draft, was released on March 9 and signed with the Cleveland Browns six days later. Tyrone Poole, Duane Starks, and Chad Brown were also released early in the offseason, with Brown returning for training camp before being cut again prior to the start of the season. Other free agency departures were André Davis (Buffalo Bills), Christian Fauria (Washington Redskins), Matt Chatham (New York Jets), Tim Dwight (New York Jets), Tom Ashworth (Seattle Seahawks), and Michael Stone (Houston Texans).
The preseason also saw the eventual loss of Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Deion Branch. Branch held out all of mini-camp, training camp, the preseason and into the regular season before eventually being traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a first-round pick in the 2007 NFL draft on September 11.
Also during the preseason, on August 8, offensive lineman Ross Tucker was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a conditional late-round 2007 draft pick. Two weeks later, offensive tackle Brandon Gorin was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for another conditional 2007 draft choice, which later became one of the Patriots' four picks of the 2007 sixth round. As the Patriots made their final roster cut-downs, they also traded running back Patrick Cobbs to the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 1 for a conditional 2007 draft pick. Both Tucker and Cobbs did not make their respective rosters and the Patriots did not receive the conditional picks.
Arrivals The offseason brought the arrival of fifth-year wide receiver Reche Caldwell from the San Diego Chargers, who would become the Patriots' leading receiver in 2006. Another acquisition came during the preseason, when the Patriots signed veteran linebacker Junior Seau, who had retired just four days earlier. Other arrivals were Mel Mitchell, Martin Gramatica, Tebucky Jones, and Barry Gardner. Free agents or potential free agents Don Davis, Hank Poteat, Ross Tucker, Artrell Hawkins, Chad Scott, Troy Brown, Stephen Neal, and Heath Evans were all re-signed, while Richard Seymour, Dan Koppen, and Russ Hochstein all received long-term contract extensions.
On June 5, the Patriots traded wide receiver Bethel Johnson to the New Orleans Saints for defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, the sixth overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft. Sullivan was arrested on June 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana for marijuana possession after being stopped for a vehicle music noise violation. Neither players made their respective rosters to begin the 2006 season.
On September 2, wide receiver Doug Gabriel was traded to the Patriots from the Oakland Raiders in exchange for the Patriots' 2007 fifth-round pick.
2006 NFL draft
+ 2006 New England Patriots Draft Selections Round Overall Player Position College1 21 Laurence Maroney Running back Minnesota2The Patriots traded second- and third-round draft picks (52 and 75 overall) to the Green Bay Packers for the Packers' second-round pick (36 overall). The Patriots acquired the No. 75 pick in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens in which the Patriots traded their second-round pick in the 2005 NFL draft for the Ravens' third- and sixth-round picks in 2005 and their third-round pick in 2006. Patriots.com summary 36 Chad Jackson Wide receiver Florida3 86 David Thomas Tight end Texas4Draft pick received from the Detroit Lions during the 2005 NFL Draft for the Patriots' 2005 fifth-round pick (received with Duane Starks for the Patriots' 2005 third-round pick and 2005 fifth-round pick in 2005) and 2005 sixth-round pick. 106 Garrett Mills Tight end Tulsa4 118 Stephen Gostkowski Kicker Memphis5The Patriots traded their sixth-round pick in the 2005 NFL draft to the Oakland Raiders for the Raiders' seventh-round pick in 2005 and fifth-round pick in 2006. Patriots.com summary 136 Ryan O'Callaghan Offensive tackle California6 191 Jeremy Mincey Defensive end Florida6 205 Dan Stevenson Offensive guard Notre Dame6 206 Le Kevin Smith Defensive tackle Nebraska7 229 Willie Andrews Safety Baylor compensatory selection
Staff 2006 New England Patriots staff Front office Chairman/CEO – Robert Kraft President – Jonathan Kraft Vice president of player personnel – Scott Pioli Director of pro personnel – Nick Caserio Director of college scouting – Thomas Dimitroff Football research director – Ernie Adams
Head coaches Head coach – Bill Belichick Assistant head coach/offensive line – Dante Scarnecchia
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Josh McDaniels Running backs – Ivan Fears Wide receivers – Brian Daboll Tight ends – Pete Mangurian Coaching assistant – Mike Judge Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Dean Pees Defensive line – Pepper Johnson Linebackers – Matt Patricia Secondary – Joel Collier Coaching assistant – Josh Boyer
Special teams coaches Special teams – Brad Seely Coaching assistant – Kevin Bickers
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Mike Woicik Assistant strength and conditioning – Harold Nash
Opening training camp roster As of the Patriots' first training camp practice at Gillette Stadium on July 28, they had the NFL maximum of 80 players signed to their roster. Deion Branch did not count against the limit as he held out of training camp and was placed on the Reserve/Did Not Report list. Also, the Patriots received eight total roster exemptions for the NFL Europe allocations of Earl Charles, Todd Mortensen, Rich Musinski, Zuriel Smith, Antwain Spann, Nick Steitz, and Ray Ventrone (one for each player, plus one bonus exemption because of the time Ventrone spent on a practice squad in 2006).
New England Patriots 2006 opening training camp roster Quarterbacks Tom Brady Corey Bramlet UR Matt Cassel Todd Mortensen
Running backs Earl Charles Patrick Cobbs UR Corey Dillon Heath Evans FB Kevin Faulk PR Laurence Maroney KR R
Wide receivers Troy Brown Reche Caldwell Erik Davis UR Keron Henry Michael McGrew Rich Musinski Matt Shelton UR Zuriel Smith John Stone
Tight ends Daniel Graham Garrett Mills R Walter Rasby David Thomas R Benjamin Watson Offensive linemen Brian Barthelmes C UR Wesley Britt T Brandon Gorin T Randy Hand T UR Russ Hochstein G Matt Light T Logan Mankins G Gene Mruczkowski G Stephen Neal G Ryan O'Callaghan T R Ross Tucker G Nick Steitz G Dan Stevenson G R Billy Yates G
Defensive linemen Jarvis Green DE Marquise Hill DE Dan Klecko NT Le Kevin Smith DE R Santonio Thomas DE Ty Warren DE Vince Wilfork NT Mike Wright NTLinebackers Eric Alexander ILB Tully Banta-Cain OLB Monty Beisel ILB Chad Brown OLB Tedy Bruschi ILB Rosevelt Colvin OLB Don Davis ILB Barry Gardner ILB Larry Izzo ILB Corey Mays ILB UR Jeremy Mincey OLB R Freddie Roach ILB UR Mike Vrabel OLB Pierre Woods OLB UR
Defensive backs Willie Andrews SS R Vernell Brown CB UR Artrell Hawkins SS Ellis Hobbs CB Tebucky Jones FS Mel Mitchell FS Hank Poteat CB Asante Samuel CB James Sanders SS Chad Scott CB Guss Scott FS Antwain Spann CB Ray Ventrone SS Eric Warfield CB Eugene Wilson FS
Special teams Jon Condo LS Stephen Gostkowski K R Martín Gramática K Josh Miller P Reserve lists Deion Branch WR (did not report) Bam Childress WR (active/PUP) Randall Gay CB (active/PUP) Rodney Harrison SS (active/PUP) Chad Jackson WR (active/PUP) R Nick Kaczur OT (active/PUP) Dan Koppen C (active/PUP) Patrick Pass FB/RB (active/PUP) Lonie Paxton LS (active/PUP) Richard Seymour DE (active/PUP) Johnathan Sullivan NT (active/PUP)
Notations R: 2006 rookie UR: 2006 undrafted rookie Italicized players are not onthe 80-man roster.
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Atlanta Falcons L 23–26 0–1 Georgia Dome Recap 2 Arizona Cardinals W 30–3 1–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 3 Washington Redskins W 41–0 2–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 4 at New York Giants L 23–31 2–2 Giants Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 10 Buffalo Bills W 19–17 1–0 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 September 17 at New York Jets W 24–17 2–0 Giants Stadium Recap 3 September 24 Denver Broncos L 7–17 2–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 4 October 1 at Cincinnati Bengals W 38–13 3–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 5 October 8 Miami Dolphins W 20–10 4–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 6 Bye 7 October 22 at Buffalo Bills W 28–6 5–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 8 at Minnesota Vikings W 31–7 6–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 9 November 5 Indianapolis ColtsL 20–27 6–2 Gillette Stadium Recap 10 November 12 New York Jets L 14–17 6–3 Gillette Stadium Recap 11 November 19 at Green Bay Packers W 35–0 7–3 Lambeau Field Recap 12 November 26 Chicago Bears W 17–13 8–3 Gillette Stadium Recap 13 December 3 Detroit Lions W 28–21 9–3Gillette Stadium Recap 14 December 10 at Miami Dolphins L 0–21 9–4 Dolphin Stadium Recap 15 December 17 Houston Texans W 40–7 10–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 16 December 24 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 24–21 11–4 Alltel Stadium Recap 17 December 31 at Tennessee Titans W 40–23 12–4 LP Field Recap
Week 1 roster New England Patriots 2006 Week 1 roster Quarterbacks