New England Patriots Made Linebacker Chris Board’s Special Teams ‘A Priority’ In Free Agency

“Board, that’s the best special teams player we’ll play against all year. He’s a great, great player.”

That was what Bill Belichick said last October before the Detroit Lions visited Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots head coach said it about a linebacker with three starts on defense since entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2018, yet 80 games played.

The unprompted words traveled that week.

“It meant a lot,” Chris Board told reporters on Tuesday during his first press conference as a member of Patriots. “Coach Belichick knows ball. And for him to say that, it definitely meant a lot.”

What was said was backed up during free agency.

The 27-year-old Board made another visit to Foxborough. A two-year, $5 million contract worth a maximum value of $6.7 million followed, as NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported in March, with up to $850,000 in incentives.

“In free agency, there was a lot of teams that wouldn’t mind having me,” said Board. “But there was definitely an emphasis and a priority to get me here, which I really appreciated. So that went into the whole process of me deciding to come here. And, yeah, I appreciate just the respect that I’ve had here so far.”

Board’s agreement with New England includes $2.6 million in total guarantees. It also includes $100,000 in workout bonuses and $340,000 in cumulative per-game active bonuses each year.

A three-time FCS national champion out of North Dakota State, Board’s time in the league began with the Baltimore Ravens before moving on to Detroit. At a listed 6-foot-2, 239 pounds, he stands with 839 snaps on defense and 1,721 snaps on special teams. And with 2.5 sacks, a pair of pass deflections, a trio of forced fumbles as well as 115 tackles.

Board has been credited for 45 of those tackles in the kicking game. Ten arrived there last season with the Lions in a role that spanned five units: kickoff coverage, kickoff return, punt coverage, punt return and field-goal block.

“It’s very important,” Board said of special teams. “I’ve definitely had to embrace it over the years. It’s really how I’ve made my money over the years and how I’ve continued to stay in the league. So it’s definitely very important to me and just my game overall, for sure.”

Among qualifying special-teamers last year, only a dozen were graded out higher by Pro Football Focus than Board, whose consistency in that phase has given way to just three penalties through five campaigns.

It’s consistency that the 2022 Patriots could not find, finishing last in Football Outsiders’ special teams DVOA while allowing one punt to be blocked and three kick returns to become touchdowns.

But after decorated captain Matthew Slater re-upped in February for a 16th season, the veteran likes of long snapper Joe Cardona and core defensive back Cody Davis were retained. The specialist investments continued for coordinator Cameron Achord in the 2023 draft with kicker Chad Ryland and punter Bryce Baringer, at No. 112 overall and No. 192 overall, respectively.

“To be a strong unit, I feel like everybody just has to play as one,” added Board. “Everybody is on the same page. Everybody is playing fast, physical, aggressive. Everybody is just playing free. Like, when you get that, all 11 playing on the same wavelength for that one given play, there’s nothing but good things that are going to come of that.”