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Patriots Reveal Loaded Gillette Stadium Plans For Rob Gronkowski, Adam Vinatieri | NESN

NESN · Rodney Knuppel · 2026-09-04T19:28:04+00:00 · nguồn gốc

The New England Patriots are turning two of their biggest home games of the 2026 season into celebrations of the franchise’s championship history. New England revealed its complete list of Gillette Stadium game themes Friday, with tributes to Rob Gronkowski, Adam Vinatieri and two legendary Super Bowl teams highlighting the schedule. The Patriots will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their Super Bowl XXXVI championship when they host the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 11. That game also will feature the team’s popular red throwback uniforms and a halftime ceremony recognizing Vinatieri’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Vinatieri made arguably the two most important kicks in franchise history during that championship run. His 45-yard field goal through the snow forced overtime against the Raiders in the divisional round before his game-winning kick sent New England to Super Bowl XXXVI. He then drilled a 48-yard field goal as time expired to defeat the St. Louis Rams and deliver the first championship in Patriots history. Rob Gronkowski Returns For Special Patriots Weekend The Patriots have another star-studded celebration planned for their Nov. 8 game against the Green Bay Packers. Gronkowski will be recognized at halftime after formally entering the Patriots Hall of Fame one day earlier. His induction ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 7 at Patriot Place Plaza. Our 2026 game themes @GilletteStadium 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/N8nEuK2MFm — New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 4, 2026 The Packers game also will serve as a 10th-anniversary reunion for the Super Bowl LI championship team. New England completed the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history by overcoming a 28-3 deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. MORE: Former NFL Agent Explains Possible Holdups in Christian Gonzalez Extension Talks Gronkowski was sidelined for that postseason run, but he remains one of the defining players from the Patriots’ second championship era. The former tight end won three Super Bowls with New England and was voted into the team’s Hall of Fame by fans earlier this year. The rest of New England’s theme schedule includes Hispanic Heritage against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 20 and Crucial Catch against the New York Jets on Oct. 18. The Patriots will hold their annual Salute to Service game against Green Bay, recognize My Cause My Cleats and the NFL Rivalries initiative against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 6, and wear their throwback uniforms again against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 10. New England’s final two home games will feature Inspire Change against the Denver Broncos and a Thank You Fans celebration against the Miami Dolphins. The dates and kickoff times for both January games remain undetermined. The Patriots built their 2026 theme schedule around more than league initiatives. With Gronkowski, Vinatieri and two championship teams returning to the spotlight, Gillette Stadium will host a season-long celebration of New England’s past while the current team attempts to create more memorable moments.