Stefon Diggs has fascinating response to whether he’s grown with Patriots

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Stefon Diggs has fascinating response to whether he’s grown with Patriots

Chris Mason · MassLive

Wed, Jan 21, 2026 ·

3 min read

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FOXBOROUGH — Stefon Diggs was asked a relatively straightforward question in his Wednesday afternoon press conference ahead of the AFC Championship Game.

How have you grown with the Patriots?

It would have been easy for the 32-year-old wide receiver to resort to a paint-by-number cliché. Instead, Diggs took his answer in a different direction.

“No,” Diggs replied. “I don’t think so.”

Diggs arrived in Foxborough with a reputation as a polarizing wide receiver. Though a Pro Bowl talent, Diggs had been traded twice by contenders, first in Minnesota and then in Buffalo.

Coming off an ACL tear with the Texans last season, Diggs signed a three-year deal in New England, but it was far lighter on guaranteed money. The Patriots could get out after one season without major financial issues if it was a bad fit.

It’s been anything but a bad fit in Foxborough. As Diggs returned to 1000-yard form, he was an emotional leader in the Patriots locker room, too, often preaching unselfishness. After saying he hadn’t grown, Diggs elaborated.

“Who I am is who I am,” Diggs continued. “I don’t think I’ve changed or went in this other direction or had this 180. Who you are carries. I’ve been the same kind of player since I’ve been in the league. Since I was a young player, I’ve always been hungry. I’ve always wanted to win. I’ve never changed that. I’ve never changed my mindset. I’ve wanted to win. How I approached the game, I worked hard and I respect the game. I appreciate it. It was taken from me last year from being injured, but I never stopped grinding or I never changed my mindset of wanting to win at a high level.

“I feel like your reputation will carry. No matter what they say about you, every time I get on a team, it’s nothing different. I’ve been a leader. I’ve been a guy that works hard. I’ve been a guy that’s trying to impact the game the best way I can. So as far as changing or being this new guy, I don’t think so.

“I would say, if you didn’t know me on a personal level, or knew me as a player, or had your own personal encounter with me, you probably would have had many opinions about me. But that usually changes after you get to know people or you’ve spent some time with people or you’ve been around them for a little while. So I guess, me changing or you having a different outlook on me would be a better question.”

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