'Resilient' Stefon Diggs relishes Super Bowl 60 chance after tumultuous year
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'Resilient' Stefon Diggs relishes Super Bowl 60 chance after tumultuous year
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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4 min read
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SAN JOSE, CA — Two trades, four different teams, playoff flameouts, emotional exits and a torn ACL last season.Stefon Diggshas endured the ebbs and flows of an NFL veteran.
"The amount of work that I put in brought me confidence. I'm not scared of nothing. I'm ready for everything that you know God throws at me. I just feel like I got big shoulders and I worked hard for it. So, what I learned about myself is I'm resilient," Diggs said Feb. 2, in thePatriots' first Super Bowl 60 media appearance. "Having a passion for it is different when you fall short a million times. How many times can you get back up? And I got back up every time. I brush myself off. I made sure I was okay. I never gave up. I never gave up on myself, either. Even when those gave up around me."
Since signing a three-year deal with thePatriotsin March, Diggs has become New England's leading receiver. Simultaneously, the Patriots have taken the 11-year veteran further than he's ever gone before as he prepares for his first career Super Bowl.
The mercurial receiver's time in New England hasn't come without controversy. He faces strangulation and assault charges from an alleged incident involving his personal chef in December. He categorically denied the allegations, thePatriots said in a statement. Diggs' arraignment on the charges was originally scheduled for Jan. 23 in Dedham District Court, but the court date was later postponed to Feb. 13.
After securing a career-first Super Bowl berth with the Patriots' 10-7 AFC Championship victory over theDenver Broncos, ateary-eyed Diggs said he was gratefulthat the Patriots "took a chance on me" in signing him as he returned from injury.
Dru Phillips #22 of the New York Giants defends the pass attempt to Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots during the first quarter of the game at Gillette Stadium on December 1, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Maddie Meyer, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball during the second quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 28, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Evan Bernstein, Getty Images)
NFL Player Stefon Diggs (R) and rapper Cardi B (L) celebrate after Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025 in New York City.
(Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images for The Met Museum/)
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a 21-14 victory against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
(Rich Storry, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills catches a touchdown pass as Jason McCourty #30 of the New England Patriots defends during the second half at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Maddie Malhotra, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills catches an eleven-yard pass over Stephon Gilmore #9 of the Carolina Panthers and runs in for a touchdown in the second quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on December 19, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Kevin Hoffman, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills caches a touchdown pass over Jonathan Jones #31 of the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Timothy T Ludwig, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs attends the 12th annual NFL Honors at Symphony Hall on February 9, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs attends the Lanvin Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 05, 2023 in Paris, France.
(Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2023 in New York City.
(Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images for The Met Museum/)
Stefon Diggs attends the Jean Paul Gaultier Haute couture Fall/Winter 2023/2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 5, 2023 in Paris, France.
(Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs attends the Kering Foundation Second Annual Caring For Women Dinner at The Pool on September 12, 2023 in New York City.
(Paul Morigi, Getty Images for Kering)
Marcus Epps #1 of the Las Vegas Raiders tackles Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Bryan M. Bennett, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills runs with a reception for a touchdown during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Bryan M. Bennett, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates his touchdown reception against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Timothy T Ludwig, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills takes a moment ahead of a game against the New York Giants at Highmark Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Bryan M. Bennett, Getty Images)
L'Jarius Sneed #38 of the Kansas City Chiefs breaks up a pass intended for Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills during the first half of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
Zack Bia and Stefon Diggs attend the GQ Sports Super Bowl Party 2024 at Park MGM Las Vegas on February 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Phillip Faraone, Getty Images for GQ)
Stefon Diggs attends the Ferragamo Fall Winter 2024 fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 on February 24, 2024 in Milan, Italy.
(Jacopo M. Raule, Getty Images for Ferragamo)
Stefon Diggs attends the Balenciaga Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 3, 2024 in Paris, France.
(Marc Piasecki, Getty Images for Balenciaga)
Stefon Diggs attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City.
(Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images for The Met Museum/)
Stefon Diggs and Guest are seen front row at the Gucci Men's Spring Summer 2025 Fashion Show during the Milan Fashion Week Menswear Spring/Summer 2025 at Triennale di Milano on June 17, 2024 in Milan, Italy.
(Jacopo M. Raule, Getty Images for Gucci)
Stefon Diggs attends the Jacquemus Menswear Fall-Winter 2025/2026 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 26, 2025 in Paris, France.
(Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images)
NFL Player Stefon Diggs and rapper Cardi B sits court-side during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
Drake Maye #10, Treveyon Henderson #32, and Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots pray with the New Orleans Saints following the NFL 2025 game at Caesars Superdome on October 12, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown past Mike Hughes #21 of the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL 2025 game between Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Maddie Meyer, Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots reacts after a first down reception against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.
(Scott Taetsch, Getty Images)
1/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Dru Phillips #22 of the New York Giants defends the pass attempt to Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots during the first quarter of the game at Gillette Stadium on December 1, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Maddie Meyer, Getty Images)
3/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball during the second quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 28, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Evan Bernstein, Getty Images)
4/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
NFL Player Stefon Diggs (R) and rapper Cardi B (L) celebrate after Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
5/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025 in New York City.
(Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images for The Met Museum/)
6/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a 21-14 victory against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
(Rich Storry, Getty Images)
7/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills catches a touchdown pass as Jason McCourty #30 of the New England Patriots defends during the second half at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Maddie Malhotra, Getty Images)
8/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills catches an eleven-yard pass over Stephon Gilmore #9 of the Carolina Panthers and runs in for a touchdown in the second quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on December 19, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Kevin Hoffman, Getty Images)
9/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills caches a touchdown pass over Jonathan Jones #31 of the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Timothy T Ludwig, Getty Images)
10/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the 12th annual NFL Honors at Symphony Hall on February 9, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
11/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Lanvin Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 05, 2023 in Paris, France.
(Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images)
12/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2023 in New York City.
(Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images for The Met Museum/)
13/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Jean Paul Gaultier Haute couture Fall/Winter 2023/2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 5, 2023 in Paris, France.
(Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images)
14/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Kering Foundation Second Annual Caring For Women Dinner at The Pool on September 12, 2023 in New York City.
(Paul Morigi, Getty Images for Kering)
15/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Marcus Epps #1 of the Las Vegas Raiders tackles Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Bryan M. Bennett, Getty Images)
16/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills runs with a reception for a touchdown during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Bryan M. Bennett, Getty Images)
17/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates his touchdown reception against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Timothy T Ludwig, Getty Images)
18/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills takes a moment ahead of a game against the New York Giants at Highmark Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Bryan M. Bennett, Getty Images)
19/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
L'Jarius Sneed #38 of the Kansas City Chiefs breaks up a pass intended for Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills during the first half of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
20/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Zack Bia and Stefon Diggs attend the GQ Sports Super Bowl Party 2024 at Park MGM Las Vegas on February 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Phillip Faraone, Getty Images for GQ)
21/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Ferragamo Fall Winter 2024 fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 on February 24, 2024 in Milan, Italy.
(Jacopo M. Raule, Getty Images for Ferragamo)
22/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Balenciaga Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 3, 2024 in Paris, France.
(Marc Piasecki, Getty Images for Balenciaga)
23/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City.
(Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images for The Met Museum/)
24/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs and Guest are seen front row at the Gucci Men's Spring Summer 2025 Fashion Show during the Milan Fashion Week Menswear Spring/Summer 2025 at Triennale di Milano on June 17, 2024 in Milan, Italy.
(Jacopo M. Raule, Getty Images for Gucci)
25/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs attends the Jacquemus Menswear Fall-Winter 2025/2026 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 26, 2025 in Paris, France.
(Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images)
26/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
NFL Player Stefon Diggs and rapper Cardi B sits court-side during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
27/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Drake Maye #10, Treveyon Henderson #32, and Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots pray with the New Orleans Saints following the NFL 2025 game at Caesars Superdome on October 12, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images)
28/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown past Mike Hughes #21 of the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL 2025 game between Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Maddie Meyer, Getty Images)
29/29
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs' career on the field, red carpet
Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots reacts after a first down reception against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Diggs was part of a massive overhaul for the Patriots this past offseason. The Patriots spent more than $200 million in guaranteed money on free agents in 2025, the most by any team in the NFL last offseason. The new faces in New England andfirst-year coach Mike Vrabelhave helped the Patriots become the fifth team to appear in the Super Bowl the year after winning fewer than five games.
This year's edition of the Patriots features a unique blend of veterans and young players.
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On offense, though, it's Diggs who's becomeDrake Maye's No. 1 wide receiver in what's been an MVP-caliber campaign for the second-year quarterback. It's a small sample size, but Diggs is the best wideout Maye's had in New England. Diggs is Maye's first 1,000-yard receiver and only player to register over 70 receptions.
Maye and Diggs produced the highest completion percentage (83.3%) among quarterback and wide receiver duos in 2025, according toNext Gen Stats.
"I think it's been an incredibly positive growing experience for Drake to be around a player as accomplished as Stef. And Stef has done many, many, many things in this league. He came in with a lot of pelts on the wall. Drake has learned how to assimilate with him, work together with a player that has been around a long time and been around a lot of good quarterbacks," Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. "I think it's been really great for Drake's growth and development in general."
Maye said Diggs has even helped build up his confidence.
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"He's big on trust and trust in him. He's always instilling trust into me and confidence in myself. He's always pumping me up. His trust and confidence in himself never wavers," Maye said. "To see somebody at his level who has done it at a high level in this league a long time. To see that and knowing that his confidence never wavers, why should mine?"
Diggs had a frustrating end in Minnesota, followed by an unceremonious exit in Buffalo and a cup of coffee in Houston.
Is Diggs' fourth team the charm? Super Bowl 60 could provide a more definitive answer.
"It's been a long time I've been playing. I've been in the NFL for 11 years," Diggs said. "I'm here on a business trip. It's a good experience but I'm here on a mission."
