Mark Wahlberg Admits He Felt Relief During Patriots’ Post-Brady Struggles — “I Didn’t Have Any More Stress”
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
For years, actor Mark Wahlberg was more than just a casual New England Patriots fan — he was a die-hard supporter living through every high-stakes game. But after two decades of Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and six Super Bowl titles, the Patriots’ dominance came with a cost: anxiety.
In a candid conversation with ClutchPoints while promoting his new Prime Video action film Play Dirty, Wahlberg admitted something surprising — he didn’t mind when his beloved team started to stumble after Brady left.
“I was actually enjoying the Patriots not being good for a while… because I didn’t have any more stress,” Wahlberg said with a laugh.
A Dynasty That Took Its Toll
For nearly 20 years, the Patriots were the NFL’s ultimate powerhouse, reaching nine Super Bowls and winning six. But those highs came with emotional lows for fans living every play. Wahlberg described the toll it took at home.
“The amount of times that I yelled at somebody in my house with my wife or my kids, or threw something, smashed something, just the feeling of anxiety; losing my appetite,” he confessed.
Brady’s departure after the 2019 season brought a major shift. The Patriots have made the playoffs only once since — a 2021 Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills — and head coach Bill Belichick went 29-67 without his legendary quarterback before leaving after the 2023 season.
For Wahlberg, that downturn came with unexpected calm. “It was actually nice to watch games without feeling like everything depended on them,” he suggested.
Looking Forward — Optimism Amid Change
Even with less stress, Wahlberg hasn’t stopped caring. He remains hopeful about the Patriots’ future under new leadership. The team is now coached by Mike Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker, after a brief stint with Jerod Mayo.
“I am very optimistic about Coach Vrabel,” Wahlberg said, while noting the team’s early-season issues. “But you can’t win a game turning the ball over six times, that’s for sure,” he said of their Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With the 2025 season underway, the Patriots sit at 2-2 after four games. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye, a first-round pick from North Carolina, has shown flashes of promise. The team rebounded after a Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders — now part-owned by Tom Brady — with wins over the Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers, though they stumbled again against Pittsburgh.
Their next big test comes on Sunday Night Football against the undefeated Buffalo Bills, who have dominated the AFC East for five seasons with quarterback Josh Allen. Wahlberg acknowledges Buffalo’s current run but doesn’t believe it will last.
“It’s theirs for now,” he said. “But I don’t think the Bills’ reign will be long — maybe another stretch at the top without a Super Bowl.”
A Fan at Peace — But Still Passionate
Wahlberg’s confession reflects a different kind of sports fandom — one where the love for a team endures even when success fades, and where the breakneck pressure of winning every year can finally give way to a calmer appreciation for the game.
For now, he’s balancing cautious optimism with hard-earned perspective. After all, few fans know better than Patriots Nation that dynasties don’t last forever — and sometimes, the downtime is exactly what the heart needs.