Rhamondre Stevenson played a key role in the New England Patriots’ recent win over the Baltimore Ravens, scoring a 21-yard touchdown that secured a fourth-quarter comeback and clinched a playoff spot for the team. This marks the first time since Stevenson’s rookie year that the Patriots have reached the postseason.
The Patriots now have an opportunity to win their division if they secure victories in their final two games, beginning with Sunday’s matchup against the New York Jets. With two wins and a Denver loss, they could also earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Reflecting on his late father, Robert, who passed away at age 54 in March, Stevenson shared how meaningful this moment is for him and his family. “He would love it,” Stevenson told Patriots.com on Wednesday. “The last couple of years, all he wanted to do was see us win. We’re finally winning, and I feel like he has the best seat in the house now from up above, so I know he’s proud. I know he’s looking down smiling and just proud of all of us.”
Stevenson missed part of offseason activities to grieve with his family but found support from both teammates and coaches during this period of transition for the team. He noted that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has been particularly supportive: “I feel like he knows me best out of all the offensive coordinators in the league in terms of what I do well, what I need to work on, and where my weaknesses are,” Stevenson said. “I think he puts us all in the right position to succeed.”
After losing his father—a person he spoke with before every game—Stevenson had to compartmentalize personal challenges while focusing on football responsibilities. The relationship with McDaniels provided stability: “Josh, specifically, has been very instrumental in keeping me going and just keeping me focused on the task at hand,” said Stevenson. “He is always just calling me, checking up on me, and we have a very good personal relationship outside of football, so I’m grateful for that.”
On-field adversity has also marked Stevenson’s season; after missing three games due to injury earlier this year and struggling with ball security early on, he has rebounded strongly as playoffs approach. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson remains questionable for Week 17.
“My coaches and my teammates were behind me keeping me confident,” Stevenson said. “I’m the hardest critic of myself, so there’s nothing anybody could really say to get me down. I just keep working.”
Stevenson keeps his father’s memory close by wearing a bracelet containing some of his ashes except during games: “My dad has been through way more than I’ve been through in real-life situations,” Stevenson said. “So football and career things, if it’s not going my way it’s easy for me to have the perspective to keep going and stay on track because I know people close to me that had real life things going on and kept pushing through – so that gives me an extra boost of confidence as well.”
He credits team culture for helping him persevere: “Just relentlessness,” Stevenson said when describing what sets this year’s Patriots apart from previous teams. “Things don’t go our way all the time but when they don’t, I feel like we still fight. We put our best foot forward.”
As New England prepares for its next game against New York Jets with hopes of finishing undefeated on the road this regular season, Stevenson says he feels supported by both his team—and by memories of his father.
