Matt Light Sees Himself in Will Campbell - and the Patriots Are Hoping He’s Right
When you’ve spent over a decade protecting Tom Brady’s blindside, you earn the right to speak with authority about what it takes to anchor the left side of an offensive line in New England. Matt Light, a three-time Super Bowl champion and Patriots Hall of Famer, knows the weight of that responsibility - and he sees a lot of himself in rookie left tackle Will Campbell.
“There are a lot of similarities,” Light said this week, speaking about Campbell’s rookie year. “I like the way he approaches the game… he wants to be a better player tomorrow than he was today. That’s important.”
The Patriots are certainly banking on that mindset. Drafted fourth overall last spring, Campbell was brought in to protect the blindside of rookie quarterback Drake Maye - a franchise cornerstone the team hopes will lead them into a new era. And while Campbell’s first NFL season hasn’t been without its bumps, the parallels to Light’s own journey are hard to ignore.
A Rookie Year That Feels Familiar
Back in 2001, Light was a second-round pick out of Purdue who was thrown into the fire right away. He started 12 regular season games and all three playoff contests as a rookie. But just like Campbell, Light had to overcome an injury - an ankle issue that briefly sidelined him before he returned in time to help the Patriots win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Now, Campbell is writing a similar story. After suffering an MCL injury earlier in the season, he’s battled back to rejoin the lineup and help guide New England to Super Bowl LX. For Light, that comeback, combined with Campbell’s approach to the game, is what stands out.
“He takes it personal,” Light said. “He wants to be great. And when you’ve got that in a young tackle, you’ve got something to build on.”
Navigating the Playoff Gauntlet
Campbell’s postseason performance has been a mixed bag, and the numbers reflect that. But context matters - and the context here is that New England made NFL history by beating three top-five defenses en route to the Super Bowl. That’s no small feat, and it’s a trial by fire for any rookie lineman.
In the wild-card round against the Chargers, Campbell earned a solid 75.6 grade from Pro Football Focus, but still gave up five pressures and a sack. That was followed by a tough outing in the divisional round against the Texans, where he struggled against Houston’s front, allowing four pressures and two sacks, and finishing with a 45.8 PFF grade.
Things settled down a bit in the AFC Championship Game versus the Broncos. Campbell didn’t allow a sack and surrendered just two pressures, but his overall PFF grade of 50.6 shows there’s still work to be done. He also drew a costly false start penalty just before halftime, pushing back a long field goal attempt that ultimately came up short.
These aren’t career-defining mistakes, but they’re the kind of moments that shape a young tackle’s development. And they underline how steep the learning curve can be - especially when you’re facing elite pass rushers every week in the playoffs.
The Final Test: Seattle’s Defense Awaits
Now, Campbell faces one more challenge - and it might be the biggest yet.
The Seattle Seahawks bring a defense that finished sixth in total yards allowed and ranked eighth in sacks during the regular season. They’re physical, fast, and disruptive off the edge. For Campbell, this game isn’t just about protecting Drake Maye - it’s about proving he can rise to the moment on the sport’s biggest stage.
The Patriots’ offense may need to do more than they have in previous postseason matchups, especially if Seattle’s high-powered attack puts pressure on Maye and company to keep pace. That makes Campbell’s role even more critical. A clean pocket could be the difference between celebrating a title and heading into the offseason with questions.
But if there’s anyone who knows how to navigate this pressure, it’s Matt Light. And if he sees something in Will Campbell - a shared mindset, a similar resilience - then maybe the Patriots have found their next great left tackle after all.
For New England, that’s more than just a nice comparison. That’s hope for the future - and maybe, just maybe, a shot at one more ring.