Longtime tackle Matt Light joins Patriots Hall of Fame
“I have to say, I’m digging the red. I like this a lot.”
As Matt Light tried on his new red jacket, he held his hands to the sky and turned to the fans to ask them what they thought.
“It looks good on you, Matt,” one admirer belted out, and Light laughed in appreciation.
Light said he typically prefers dressing in camo clothing, or anything dark and slimming. This was a change of pace, but it was one he didn’t mind at all.
“I have to say,” Light told the crowd, “I’m digging the red. I like this a lot.”
It’s official!@LightFoundation is the 27th member of @TheHall. pic.twitter.com/kAZ3mbilaC
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 29, 2018
Light’s newest jacket signified something much larger than a new addition to his wardrobe. The longtime Patriots left tackle, who won three Super Bowls in his 11-year career in New England, officially entered the Patriots Hall of Fame Saturday at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots, in a live stream of the event, shared messages from team president Jonathan Kraft, owner Robert Kraft, and, of course, the man of the hour.
“To be recognized for doing your job isn’t why I play the game of football,” Light said, “but I’ve been thinking about this day since I got the call, and I realized that these moments are all about hitting the pause button on life and reflecting on the hard work, the ups and downs, and the unexplainable moments that have shaped my life.”
“I’ve really looked forward to this day for my family and my friends. It’s meant the world to all of us.”
1-on-1 with @TheHall‘s newest member, @LightFoundation. pic.twitter.com/h6kPTCr7IC
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 29, 2018
Light – who privately battled Crohn’s disease for a decade – thanked his family, his teammates and coaches, and the fans, praising them for sticking with him throughout his entire career. He said the specific plays have faded from his memory over the years, but many of the people he met along the way are still some of his closest friends and confidants.
Robert Kraft praised him for protecting Tom Brady from the likes of Terrell Suggs, Dwight Freeney, and Jason Taylor and making the lives of those around him much easier.
“He had the most important job on this team, in my opinion, because he had to protect Tom Brady’s tush,” Robert Kraft said.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1046128247321255936
Brady congratulated Light via Instagram, reminding fans of what an integral role he’s played in the Patriots’ sustained run of success.
“I have played with so many great players and Matt was at the top of the list,” Brady wrote. “Toughness, dependability, consistency, and great performances sums it up. It was a pleasure to play with you.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoVMfcdnwGQ/?hl=en&taken-by=tombrady
Coach Bill Belichick noted that Light was instrumental in helping the Patriots beat the Panthers in the 2003-04 Super Bowl. He worked to contain Carolina’s vaunted defensive line and helped Brady and Co. move the ball downfield with regularity.
Sometimes those plays go unnoticed, but Light consistently excelled at one of the most difficult jobs in football, Belichick said.
The head coach noted that Light didn’t hesitate to joke around along the way, either.
“Matt always kept it fun and liked to take advantage of everybody,” Belichick said. “The head coach certainly wasn’t exempt. I got a few counterpunches in, but probably not as many hits as Matt delivered.”
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1046181579729453056
