With tears running down his face, Patriots WR Stefon Diggs shares emotional words after reaching Super Bowl

As Stefon Diggs stood on the snowy grass in Denver after New England’s AFC Championship victory over the Broncos, tears streamed down the 32-year-old wide receiver’s face.

Five years ago, Diggs went viral in defeat for watching the Chiefs celebrate an AFC Championship victory. Now, he’s finally punched his own ticket to Super Bowl LX.

“I’m just so proud of this team,” Diggs said in an NFL Network interview. “You don’t know how hard this year has been, battling the injury and coming back. Being around the right group of guys. Great quarterback. Great OC. Great team. Great head coach. It made it all worth it, all the hard work. We’ve got one more. I just want to rejoice and take this moment in and just be thankful for God.”

“They were calling me washed,” Diggs said. “Saying I ain’t have it no more. I just wanted to prove it to myself that I am who I say I am… this team took a chance on me. I just wanted to make them proud.”

Diggs got even more animated when asked about his quarterback, Drake Maye, who didn’t have his sharpest game in the Denver snow but was able to run for 65 yards, including a game-sealing first down.

“That’s a soldier! That’s an MVP!” Diggs said. “That’s a guy that stands on 10 toes, battles through adversity. He’s a hell of a player. I’m riding with Drake Maye. I’m thankful to have a quarterback like that. I’m going to give him everything I’ve got every time.”

Diggs finished with five catches for 17 yards in Sunday’s win.