Kyle Van Noy is no stranger to being counted out late in the preseason and flipping the script with his game. Back in 2016, the Detroit Lions traded him, along with a 7th-round pick (2017 Draft), to the New England Patriots in exchange for a sixth-rounder. Little did the Patriots know that the linebacker would become one of the biggest bargain trades of the Bill Belichick era.

Kyle Van Noy won the Super Bowl twice (LI and LIII) with the Patriots, locked down a starting role, and was eventually named to the Patriots All-2010s Team. Now, after a 3-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens, the 35-year-old is back on the free-agent market and has hinted at a reunion. 

“Odell Beckham Jr. is back on the Giants. Aaron Donald is back on the Rams. Geno Smith is back on the Jets. Your childhood ain’t over yet,” ESPN’s Sam Block recently tweeted on X. 

Replying to this post, Kyle Van Noy tweeted, “Sooo then I know where I’m goin then.” Sam Block further replied with a “world needs this” response to the veteran who was hinting at a return to the Patriots. 

Van Noy signed a two-year, $9 million extension with Baltimore back in April 2024. That deal was officially done after the 2025 season, making him an unrestricted free agent who has confirmed he plans to suit up for his 13th NFL season. 

Apart from his time with the Patriots and the Ravens, Kyle Van Noy has also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, and most recently the Baltimore Ravens, who signed him in late September 2023 to their practice squad. 

In his 3-year run in Baltimore, Van Noy racked up 23.5 sacks, including a 12.5-sack season, which led to his first Pro Bowl honours. Over that stretch, he also logged 27 tackles for loss and 39 quarterback hits.

The biggest talking point, perhaps, in a potential move to the Patriots would be the thin defensive depth on proven disruption behind Dre’Mont Jones and developing younger rushers. The departure of K’Lavon Chaisson to the Washington Commanders in free agency and top edge rusher Harold Landry being placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list leaves the Patriots with an unsure pass-rushing front heading into the 2026 season.

At 35, Kyle Van Noy could provide the Super Bowl LX runners-up with instant rotational depth, experience at the position, and edge versatility without eating developmental and primary edge rusher snap counts. 

In his first and second stints with the Patriots, he played 67 games over 5 seasons, logging 21.5 sacks, 316 combined tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 42 QB hits.

Furthermore, Kyle Van Noy can be signed to a relatively team-friendly short-term contract, as he remains unsigned ahead of the regular season.