Veteran offensive lineman’s perseverance pays off with new Patriots contract

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Veteran offensive lineman’s perseverance pays off with new Patriots contract

Mark Daniels · MassLive

Wed, Dec 24, 2025 ·

4 min read

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FOXBOROUGH – While growing up in Vicksburg, Miss., Ben Brown can vividly remember watching Patriots games with his father, Tim. It was around the beginning of his high school career when his dad mentioned that he thought his son could one day play in the NFL.

Brown remembers thinking that was just a pipe dream. The players on the television looked so big. Little did he know, his football journey would ultimately place him in New England , where he’d find not only his first taste of NFL success, but his first true contract extension.

On Tuesday, the Patriots signed Brown to a new 2-year contract worth up to $6.6 million. For the 27-year-old, it means everything after a winding NFL journey.

“Coming here last year off the Raiders practice squad was such an unbelievable experience,” Brown said. “To still be around here, I love everything about New England. I love everything about the Patriots . Growing up, when I was a kid, watching the Patriots play on TV was always some of my fondest memories. I just remember watching games with my dad when I was younger, my dad looking and said, ‘You’re good enough to play out there, too.’ Little me in ninth grade was like, ‘Do you see those guys, Dad? They’re giants.’ But he was right.”

Brown followed in his family’s footsteps, playing at Ole Miss. His father, Tim, was a guard for the Rebels (1988-89), and his grandfather, Allen, was an All-American and two-time Super Bowl champion for the Green Bay Packers .

For Brown, the football journey wasn’t easy. He suffered a torn biceps tendon in college, leading him to go undrafted in 2022. The offensive lineman signed with the Cincinnati Bengals , but another biceps injury cost him his rookie season.

After being released by the Bengals the next summer, Brown signed with Seattle ’s practice squad. He played in one game before getting released and signing with Arizona ’s practice squad.

In 2024, Brown signed with Las Vegas and started that season on the practice squad before the Patriots signed him to their active roster on Oct. 10, 2024. The team needed another center after David Andrews suffered a season-ending injury. Brown started 10 games for the Patriots last season and provided stability.

“It’s been a crazy kind of career for me, getting injured in college, going undrafted, and then bouncing around teams and really not knowing what was going on,” Brown said. “For me, ultimately, trust in God’s plan. Whether that was continuing to play in the NFL and get an opportunity, like I have today, or it ending. I had confidence and comfort in that. This is an unbelievable blessing that I have.”

In New England, Brown has shown to be an important depth piece for the Patriots. This year, he’s been the team’s top interior backup on the offensive line. He’s made two starts at left guard and played in 15 games total.

“I just think Ben exemplifies everything that we want in building this program,” Mike Vrabel said. “(He) cares deeply about the team, plays multiple positions, is a great teammate, plays with effort and finish, tries to work and improve, and has found a role for himself here. Excited to have him.”

After signing his new contract, Brown is in line to start again this weekend with left guard Jared Wilson in the NFL’s concussion protocol .

“Ultimately, I don’t want to let the team down,” Brown said. “Whether that’s me playing jumbo tight end, playing right guard, left guard, or center. I want to do my job to the best of my abilities; however, that looks for however many reps that will be, that’s my goal. These are my brothers. I don’t want to ever disappoint anyone or ever let anyone down.”

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