Mark Wahlberg left the Super Bowl early for a very understandable reason

Mark Wahlberg and his family were among the many Patriots fans who flocked to Houston for Super Bowl 51. But the Dorchester native was not among the faithful who watched New England complete the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Wahlberg was spotted leaving NRG Stadium with his wife, Rhea Durham, and children Michael and Brendan before the game was over.

Mark Wahlberg leaving #sb51 @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/uxzG6MF4YI

— Allen Reid 🎥🇺🇸 (@Allen_Reid) February 6, 2017

It turns out the actor had a perfectly understandable, albeit unfortunate, reason for leaving: His son was sick.

“I had to leave the game early because my youngest son wasn’t feeling well,” Wahlberg wrote on Instagram. “Trust me, I would have loved to be at the stadium — but family first. Doesn’t mean I don’t love my Patriots too!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQKDryDgeLT/?taken-by=markwahlberg&hl=en

Though Wahlberg departed before the game wrapped, he still found ways to revel in the Patriots’ win, both celebrating with his family and rubbing it in the faces of Falcons fans Usher and Ludacris.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQJ8_32AEZI/?taken-by=markwahlberg&hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQJ-87DjjhT/?taken-by=ludacris

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQKCoeWAE9t/?taken-by=markwahlberg&hl=en