New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Stefon Diggs addresses critics after reaching first Super Bowl with Patriots

By Olamilekan Ajayi | Last updated Jan 25, 2026 11:17 PM ET

The wide receiver who spent 11 seasons chasing championship glory finally got his moment Sunday. Stefon Diggs will play in his first Super Bowl after the New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos 10-7 in a defensive slugfest at the AFC Championship Game.

At 32 years old, Diggs stood on the field fighting back tears, reflecting on a career that brought him close multiple times but never quite over the line.

The journey included an NFC Championship appearance with Minnesota in 2017 and an AFC Championship with Buffalo in 2020, where he memorably watched Kansas City celebrate its Super Bowl berth.

Sunday was different for Diggs, and he had plenty to say to those who questioned whether he could still perform at an elite level.

In an emotional interview with NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe, the veteran receiver made his feelings clear about finally reaching football's biggest stage.

“They were calling me washed. Saying I didn’t have it anymore. I just wanted to prove to myself I am who I say I am.”

“This team took a chance on me. I just wanted to make them proud.”

1-on-1 with emotional #Patriots WR Stefon Diggs headed to 1st Super Bowl: pic.twitter.com/B2dD8Wq47h
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 26, 2026

Patriots gamble on Diggs pays off in championship run

New England took a calculated risk signing Diggs after his 2024 season ended with a torn ACL while playing for Houston. Critics labeled him finished. The whispers grew louder as teams passed on the four-time Pro Bowler during free agency.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel offered Diggs a chance to prove himself in his first year leading New England, and the receiver delivered exactly what the team needed.

Diggs finished the regular season with 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. Making him the first Patriots receiver to crack 1,000 yards since Julian Edelman in 2019.

The production continued through the playoffs, including a four-catch, 40-yard, one-touchdown performance against his former team, Houston, in the divisional round.

"They were calling me washed. Saying I didn't have it anymore," Diggs told Wolfe. "I just wanted to prove to myself I am who I say I am."

"This team took a chance on me. I just wanted to make them proud," Diggs said after the game.

The Maryland product spoke about timing and redemption during his postgame press conference. He acknowledged the difficulty of returning from his ACL injury while adapting to a completely new system.

Everything about 2025 was unfamiliar to Diggs. New coaches, new teammates, new playbook. But he viewed those challenges as necessary steps toward something bigger.

"New team, new situation, new coaches, new teammates. It all happened exactly how it was supposed to," Diggs explained. "I've been in the league 11 years now, just I fell short so many times."

The Patriots will face their Super Bowl opponent in February, giving Diggs his long-awaited chance to compete for a championship ring.

Olamilekan Ajayi

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