FOXBORO — The 2023 season was the best of Christian Barmore’s NFL career. The year that followed was the worst of his life.
The Patriots defensive tackle was diagnosed with blood clots last summer and missed nearly the entire 2024 campaign as a result. He sat out until mid-November, played in four games and then was shut down for the season after his symptoms — which included severe shortness of breath — returned.
Now, nearly a year removed from his initial diagnosis, Barmore feels like himself again. The 25-year-old has been a full participant in spring practice and projects as a vital cog in Mike Vrabel’s new-look Patriots defense.
“That stuff I went through, I would never want anybody to go through that,” Barmore said after Monday’s minicamp practice. “… Now I can breathe again.”
His goal: prove to the rest of the NFL that he’s still the player who racked up 64 tackles, 8 1/2 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, 13 tackles for loss and six pass breakups two seasons ago.
“It’s really just a lot of fire in my heart, I could say that, because I feel like after that situation, people forget who I am,” Barmore said. “So I’m really bringing a lot of competitive (energy) with me. … (I want) just to prove that I’m still me, and I’m always going to be me.”
Barmore and big-money free agent signing Milton Williams are expected to anchor New England’s defensive line this season, with third-year pro Keion White and veteran newcomer Harold Landry leading its stable of edge rushers. Vrabel is banking on that group to both be stout against the run and inject life into a Patriots pass rush that ranked last in the NFL in sacks and sack rate in 2024.
“I think that’s got to be a strength for us this year, that front seven,” the Patriots head coach said. “We certainly invested in that position, and I like how they’re competing. I like how they’re working.”
Asked whether he has any lingering limitations from his illness, Barmore said he’s “good to go” and has the “green light.” Vrabel wouldn’t comment on Barmore’s medical status but said he’s enjoyed working with the 2021 second-round draft pick.
“What I’ve seen is a player that is excited and that is coachable — extremely coachable,” Vrabel said. “He has some versatility. He’s rushed inside. He’s lined up outside. He’s worked extremely hard. You’ve seen him chase and play with great effort down the field. I’m excited to see where he’s at, but I’ve seen a lot of just improvement and a lot of engagement from him since the time that we’ve been here.”
Barmore also believes he’ll be a good fit for New England’s new defensive scheme, which allows D-linemen to rush upfield more aggressively than the team’s previous system.
“I love it,” he said, beaming. “I love it. Really love it. It excites me every time, man. It’s just real good energy every day. I love it.”
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