https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh9lf3f5IY0
The Patriots announced today that Matt Light had been selected over Mike Vrabel and Richard Seymour to be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. While I was a Mike Vrabel voter, Light getting in makes a ton of sense. Of the trio he was by far the fan favorite and when the fans are voting you had to know he had a good chance to get in this year.
Light was one of the hearts of the personality of the 2000-2011 Patriots teams. His tenure perfectly matched the Patriots first Super Bowl win, finishing with the loss in Super Bowl 46. In that time, the Patriots saw much turnover, but Light was a constant, setting the tone for the “bearded brothers” up front who protected the GOAT.
Welcome to #TheHall, @LightFoundation!
Matt Light announced as 2018 @Patriots Hall of Fame Inductee: https://t.co/VfpSkVpIlk pic.twitter.com/AAH6bWskVl
— The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon (@TheHall) May 16, 2018
In that way, Light was one of the few players to bridge the first and second iterations of the dynasty. From the unknowns everybody loved all the way to the rebuilt defense that scraped back to the Super Bowl in 2011, Light was a constant.
The left tackle was one of the most reliable players on the field, only missing significant time in 2005 when he broke his leg against the Steelers. Off the field he was just as reliable when it came to giving back through his Light Foundation and giving some of the best comedic moments of the Patriots’ dynasty (see above for just one example).
While I’m admittedly a defense guy, it’s impossible to not love Matt Light and everything he did for the Patriots, coming up huge against some of the most vaunted pass rushers in the biggest playoff games. He’s a slam dunk addition to the Hall of Fame and I look forward to what will certainly be an entertaining and hilarious induction ceremony.
