Story by
Who did Robert Kraft give the game ball to after AFC Championship win?
- Story by
- Who did Robert Kraft give the game ball to after AFC Championship win?
As Mike Vrabel called for the New England Patriots to bring it in after his postgame speech Sunday evening, owner Robert Kraft stepped in to interrupt.
The team had just defeated the Denver Broncos , 10-7 — marking the first time New England had won a postseason game at Mile High Stadium — to advance to Super Bowl 60. Kraft had stood near Vrabel for his speech, holding the game ball in his hand.
Advertisement
“I’m going to interrupt one second,” Kraft said, walking out into the middle of the circle of players.
“We really have come a long way, and I want to give this game ball to a coach who’s amazing and did something that’s never been done before with all of you. No other team in the history of the NFL has gone 9-0 on the road.”
The players began celebrating before Vrabel shouted out the same thing he started his speech with: “Warriors.”
Moments before receiving the game ball from Kraft, Vrabel quickly reflected on the season and the path the team had taken to become AFC champions.
“Sometimes you’ve got to believe things before you can see them. You’ve got to believe them before you can see them,” Vrabel said. “And from the time that we started, you did everything that we asked you to do. We said everybody’s journey to this league looks a little different, just like everybody’s journey to the Super Bowl looks a little different.
Advertisement
We can enjoy this, and we will — you’ve earned the right. I appreciate everything that you guys have done. This staff, these players, our ownership, every single person has helped us get here. But you’ve got to celebrate tonight, then tomorrow it’s how are we going to win the next game. You understand me? How is this group going to find a way to win one more game? We’re going to pack our (expletive) up, we’re going to take our belief, we’re going to take our identity and we’re going to go on the road."
If the Patriots win the Super Bowl, Vrabel will become the first person in NFL history to win a Super Bowl title as a player and a head coach with the same franchise.
Read the original article on MassLive . Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
