Patriots rescued four players from worst-to-first at midseason on Super Bowl run

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In the final seconds of the AFC Championship Game, with snow falling from the sky like confetti celebrating a Patriots Super Bowl berth, defensive tackle Cory Durden hugged head coach Mike Vrabel and kept repeating, “you changed my life.” Durden isn’t the only Patriots player whose fate changed this season. The Super Bowl LX-bound Patriots rescued four players from losing seasons with key signings and waiver claims. Durden is just the prime example. Cut from a Giants team that finished the 2025 season with a 4-13 record out of training camp, Durden signed with the Patriots’ practice squad and was almost...