Dec 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots safety Brenden Schooler (41) runs down the field after a punt during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Overall is was a down year for the New England Patriots special teams coverage units, which ranked 28th in DVOA in 2023. However specialist Brenden Schooler was a bright spot, according to players around the NFL.
On Wednesday the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) released its second annual All-Pro team, which is voted on exclusively by the league’s players. Schooler was voted to the team as a coverage specialist.
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Schooler, a second-year player who was signed as a UDFA last season, played a team-high 407 special teams snaps this year (88.86 percent of the total). In that time he recorded 13 tackles, tied for the most in the league on special teams. That’s nearly on pace from his impressive rookie year, when he had 14 special teams tackles.
Additionally, Schooler was the focal point on one of the biggest special teams highlights of the season. He was the motion player on the Patriots’ creative field goal block against the D0lphins in Week 2.
