On Wednesday, it was announced that offensive tackle Matt Light would be inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame as the sole inductee for 2018. Light was selected by fan vote and beat out linebacker Mike Vrabel and defensive end Richard Seymour.
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
Matt Light Selected as 2018 Hall of Fame Inductee
With his induction, Light becomes the 27th person to be honored in the pantheon of Patriot greats. Light spent his entire 11-year career in New England and helped the team win three of their five Super Bowls. He joins Troy Brown, Tedy Bruschi, and Kevin Faulk as the only career players with three Super Bowl rings in The Hall.
Light was drafted by the Patriots out of Purdue in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft and immediately began carving out a spectacular career. He was an impact player during his rookie season, making 12 starts and allowing the Patriots rushing offense to average more than 112 yards per game. The Patriots faced the St. Louis Rams to cap off the 2001 season in Super Bowl XXXVI, and Light’s work as the starting left tackle was instrumental in the unlikely victory.
The Patriots missed the playoffs in 2002, but Light found himself on the game’s biggest stage in Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers in 2003. The Panthers defensive line failed to record a single sack against Light’s offensive front. He collected his third and final ring at the end of the 2004 season, during which Light’s offensive line helped Corey Dillon set a single-season franchise record of 1,635 rushing yards. The Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX to round out their phenomenal season.
Although Light would fail to win another Super Bowl, he helped the team make it to two more Super Bowl appearances, falling both times to the New York Giants. Of the 155 career games that Light appeared in, he started 153, failing to get the start only during his rookie season. Light started all 16 games of the season seven times during his career.
The Patriots were well aware of Light’s impact, and the NFL awarded him for his efforts in the latter half of his career. He was selected to the Pro Bowl thrice during his illustrious career, making the AFC team in 2006, 2007, and 2010. He was also an All-Pro first-teamer in 2007.
The induction ceremony will be held at The Hall at Patriot Place on September 29th.
