FOXBOROUGH — On Thursday afternoon, Rhamondre Stevenson was asked a simple question.
If you could gather all the people who have circled you in their embrace in the 10 months since your father’s sudden passing and tell them one thing, what would it be?
“I love them,” said Stevenson quietly. “Nothing more, nothing less. I love them, and I appreciate them.”
Anyone who has suddenly lost a parent can tell you that the process can be gutting. And so, in the wake of Robert Stevenson’s sudden passing in March, his son was thrown off his emotional axis as a Patriots running back.
“I’ve lost a [number] of people in my life, unfortunately. But you know, this one hit a little different. It was my Dad,” Stevenson said. “My best friend.”
Stevenson has worked to keep his father’s memory alive. He continues to wear a bracelet with his father’s ashes, and regularly takes to social media to pay tribute.
“He was a wonderful father. He made me feel like I was one of his kids. He made everybody feel loved,” said Ty Flanagan, a Stevenson family friend. “Just a real honest, hardworking man who cared, and supported us. He would always check in on me to see how I was doing. It’s just hard to put into words how great of a man he was.”
A support system, comprised of friends and family members, has worked to keep Stevenson pointed in the right direction. It’s a group that includes family friends like Flanagan, as well as Stevenson’s longtime mentor Ben Arave. That means regular check-ins via text, phone conversations, or anything else that might be needed.
“It means everything,” Stevenson said of his support system. “Just to know there’s people like that out there for me.
“Obviously, my family has my back, but just like Ty and Coach Ben . . . It’s tremendous just to know somebody you know is there pushing for you and is empathetic about your situation. That just makes you want to work harder, because you know they’ve got you.”
Stevenson also found empathy with the new Patriots’ coaching staff. Head coach Mike Vrabel gave him a wide berth when it came to spring workouts, allowing him to return when he felt ready. Those in Stevenson’s inner circle credit Vrabel for allowing the running back time to grieve, and giving him space to work through the process.
“I think he’s really tried to take a position where he really gets to know the needs of his players, and allow them the personal flexibility when they need it,” Arave said of Vrabel. “He supported him.”
“That’s just a true blessing to have an organization that is willing to be there with you, through and through, getting him reps and not just being down on him,” Flanagan said of the Patriots.
According to running back coach Tony Dews, it was an easy call.
“You can tell, we could tell, from the day we got here,” Dews said of Stevenson. “He loves this team, he loves this organization. And he’ll lay his body on the line.”
This season has not been without its struggles. The ball security issues that dogged Stevenson last year surfaced at the start of the season with three fumbles in five games. Then a toe injury sidelined him for three straight contests in November.
“He didn’t go in the tank and just hang his head and say ‘Woe is me,’” said Dews. “He still did the other things within the scheme, within the game to help the team win.”
“I know Mike wasn’t happy with the ball security issues early this season, but he didn’t bench him. He stood by him,” Arave said. “That’s a huge aspect to him understanding the players and allowing them the flexibility to deal with personal issues when those things come up.”
Now, on the cusp of the divisional round, the veteran has enjoyed a resurgence. He hasn’t turned the ball over since October, and in his last four games (three regular-season contests and one playoff game), he’s averaged 70.5 rushing yards per contest and has 461 yards from scrimmage through that stretch.
“It’s been awesome to watch,” quarterback Drake Maye said of Stevenson’s resurgence.. “I think the biggest thing is he hasn’t wavered, and we haven’t shied away from trusting in him.
“He’s had some things off the field and on the field, and he’s just kept his head down and has become a great player for us. He’s been fun to watch.”
“I know what Mondre has gone through,” said offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. “But I also know who Mondre is and where he comes from. I know what his family’s like.
“It’s just super rewarding for me as a coach to watch him have success, and continue to do the things that he does. He’s a better person than he is a player, and he’s a really good football player. And so when you get an opportunity to see guys do that, it’s really special.”
Now, he’s poised to continue his run through the postseason. Sunday’s contest against the Texans will represent Stevenson’s first shot of his career to reach the AFC Championship Game. But it’s also a chance to honor the memory of his father, as well as pay tribute to those who have supported him.
“He just wants to make his Dad proud,” said Flanagan. “He wants to make his family proud, and continue to make his Dad happy.”
“I just learned you’ve got to take grief day-by-day,” Stevenson said. “Every day is going to be different. You’re going to have good days, bad days. But just for me, personally, it’s about leaning on the people who have my back, and just knowing he’s with me, looking down and ultimately, proud of me. So I live with that.”
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