Stefon Diggs is finally headed to the Super Bowl. After nearly a decade in the league, the veteran wide receiver is getting his long-awaited shot at the biggest stage in football.
Drafted in the fifth round back in 2015 by the Minnesota Vikings, Diggs has carved out a career defined by big moments, elite route-running, and a competitive fire that’s always burned hot. Now, thanks to the New England Patriots’ gritty 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship, Diggs will get to play for a Lombardi Trophy-for the first time.
The stat line from Sunday’s game won’t jump off the page-five catches for 17 yards-but context is everything. This wasn’t a track meet.
It was a snow-covered slugfest, the kind of game where every yard feels like a mile. The blizzard conditions made throwing the ball a challenge, and offensive fireworks were in short supply.
Still, Diggs made his presence felt, contributing just enough to help push the Patriots over the top in a game that was more about survival than style points.
This marks Diggs’ third appearance in a conference championship game, but it’s the first time he’s come out on the winning end. He got there once with the Vikings, famously delivering the “Minneapolis Miracle” in the Divisional Round before Minnesota fell short in the NFC title game.
He made it back with the Buffalo Bills, only to watch the Kansas City Chiefs deny him a trip to the Super Bowl. This time, though, Diggs is moving on-and you can bet it means something to him.
And he’s not the only former Viking making the trip to the big game with New England.
Garrett Bradbury, once the anchor of Minnesota’s offensive line, is also heading to the Super Bowl after joining the Patriots earlier this season. The Vikings cut ties with their former first-round pick last March, and while Bradbury hasn’t exactly played at a Pro Bowl level in New England, he’s done enough to help his new team reach the sport’s pinnacle. That’s a win in itself.
Josh Dobbs, who briefly became a cult hero in Minnesota last season, is now backing up rookie quarterback Drake Maye in Foxborough. Dobbs won’t be under center in the Super Bowl, but he’s been an important part of the Patriots’ quarterback room this season. His experience and football IQ have been valuable assets as Maye navigates his first year in the league.
Then there’s Vederian Lowe and Khyiris Tonga-two more former Vikings who’ll be suiting up for New England in the Super Bowl. Their roles may not be headline-grabbing, but they’re part of a Patriots team that’s found ways to win all year long.
So while the Vikings won’t be playing in this year’s Super Bowl, their fingerprints are still all over it. For Minnesota fans, there’s still a reason to tune in-whether it’s to cheer on Diggs as he chases the ring that’s eluded him, or to see a few familiar faces get their shot at football immortality.