Stefon Diggs was almost wearing orange and blue this weekend. Instead, he’s suiting up in Foxborough colors, preparing to face the very team he nearly joined in free agency - the Denver Broncos - with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
According to league insider Ian Rapoport, Diggs’ free agency decision last March came down to two finalists: the New England Patriots and the Broncos. Ultimately, he chose New England, and that choice has paid off in a big way - for both player and team.
Let’s rewind for a second. Diggs, now 32, was coming off a torn ACL that cut his 2024 season with the Texans short after just eight games.
At that point, there were more questions than answers about what he had left in the tank. But the Patriots saw something in the veteran wideout, and they made a bold move - signing him to a three-year, $63.5 million deal on March 8, 2025.
That investment has turned out to be one of the smartest moves of the offseason.
Diggs didn’t just return - he reasserted himself as one of the league’s most reliable and explosive receivers. He posted 1,013 receiving yards in 2025, marking his seventh career 1,000-yard season. For a player coming off major knee surgery, that’s not just a bounce-back - that’s a statement.
And now, he’s got a shot at the one thing that’s eluded him throughout his standout career: a trip to the Super Bowl.
Diggs has been here before - deep playoff runs, championship heartbreaks. He was part of that 2018 Vikings team that came up short in the NFC title game, and again in 2021 with the Bills in the AFC Championship. Both times, the dream fell just out of reach.
But this time feels different. He’s not just a contributor - he’s a driving force behind New England’s resurgence. His route-running, veteran savvy, and ability to make contested catches in critical moments have helped stabilize a Patriots offense that needed a go-to target.
And now, in a poetic twist, he’ll line up across from the Broncos - the team he nearly chose - with everything on the line.
If Diggs can help lift the Patriots past Denver and into the Super Bowl, it’ll be more than just a career milestone. It’ll be a full-circle moment for a player who bet on himself, came back from injury, and chose the path that led him to the biggest stage in football.
He’s been chasing this moment for years. Now, it’s right in front of him.