3 Patriots One-Hit Wonders We Wish Hadn't Disappeared

The New England Patriots' modern dynasty helped reverse the losing history of the franchise by going to nine championships in the last 20 seasons, winning six of them. While names like Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Wes Welker and Julian Edelman have stuck with the team through multiple championships, several Patriots during and before the dynasty had promising careers cut short by injury or a logjam at their position. These three Patriots should have had much longer, more successful careers, but are instead categorized as one-hit wonders.

3. RB Jonas Gray

Gray's moment in the spotlight lasted all of one game, as he carried the ball 38 times for 201 yards and four touchdowns in his fourth career game, which happened to be a 42-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts in 2014. He landed himself on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and was then forgotten in record time, as he was inactive for almost half of New England's remaining games. He did not return to the Pats for the 2015 season, which he split between Miami and Jacksonville before fading out of the league as quickly as he announced his arrival in it.

2. WR Malcolm Mitchell

Belichick often struggles with drafting wide receivers, but Mitchell looked destined to change all of that, as the fourth-round pick earned a starting spot as a rookie, which he proved he deserved by recording 401 yards and four touchdowns. He picked up a Super Bowl ring in 2016, his only season in the pros. Unfortunately, several knee injuries, the first of which came in 2017 right before the season started, forced Mitchell out of football in 2019. Mitchell has adjusted well to a life after football, however. He is a best-selling children's book author, as his story "The Magician's Hat" helped him embark upon his second career.

1. RB Robert Edwards

Edwards' story is one of the most tragic in recent football history. Needing to replace Curtis Martin, Pete Carroll picked the Georgia star running back in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and Edwards rewarded Carroll by rushing for 1,115 yards and totaling 12 touchdown during his rookie season. Unfortunately, the guy destined to be a star in New England for years to come blew out his knee at a Pro Bowl flag football game, and narrowly escaped having his leg amputated due to the severity of the injury. Edwards wouldn't play again until 2002, where he had a handful of games for the Miami Dolphins as a backup. While he later became a success in Canada with the Montreal Alouettes, his memories of 1998 are probably more precious.