FOXBOROUGH- A familiar roar returned to Gillette Stadium this Sunday morning, but it wasn’t for a kickoff. Instead, tens of thousands of fans braved biting winds and freezing temperatures to give the New England Patriots a raucous send-off as they depart for Santa Clara to face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.

The atmosphere in Foxborough was electric, marking a celebratory pinnacle for a franchise that has completed one of the most dramatic turnarounds in NFL history, jumping from a 4-13 finish last year to a 14-3 record and an AFC Championship this season.

The festivities kicked off with a high-energy performance by Boston’s own Dropkick Murphys, who set the tone by reworking their classic “The Boys Are Back” into a stadium-wide anthem, “The Pats Are Back.” The rally also featured several franchise stalwarts like Matt Light, Rob Ninkovich, Patrick Chung, and Scott Zolak. Matt Light addressed the crowd, noting the incredible “production value” of today’s team compared to the rallies of twenty years ago, but emphasized that the current roster shares the same “love for the game” that defined the dynasty years.

When the current team took the stage, the decibel levels reached a fever pitch. Head Coach Mike Vrabel, who has masterfully guided the team in his debut season, praised the home crowd for their unwavering support throughout the playoff run, specifically citing the intensity of their recent victory over the Texans. The crowd reserved its loudest “MVP” chants for sophomore quarterback Drake Maye. Despite nursing a minor shoulder injury from the snowy AFC Championship win against Denver, Maye appeared in high spirits, thanking the fans and promising to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to New England.

Several other players including wide receiver Stefon Diggs spoke to the crowd and got them fired up. As did fellow receiver Mac Hollins who pure usual came out barefoot and did the now famous, Warriors……Come out to play!!!!

The event concluded with a symbolic tradition as members of the offensive line, led by Mike Onwenu, climbed the Gillette Stadium lighthouse to ring the “Keeper of the Light” bell. As the team boarded buses bound for T.F. Green Airport, the message from Foxborough was clear: the region is ready for a record-breaking seventh world title.