Michael Whitaker
Former Detroit Lions LB Kyle Van Noy has had a whirlwind season. Originally drafted by the Lions in 2014 out of BYU, he was traded to the New England Patriots in October. He is now a Super Bowl champion.
“Like I said earlier this week, it was a rough 2 1/2 years and it’s all for a reason,” Van Noy said while celebrating in the locker room after the game ended. “And this is part of it. This is just the beginning. I’m only in Year 3 and I’m just so happy. That’s all I can say, I’m just so blessed.”
“Kept working, kept working and now I’m world champ. No one can ever take that away from me.”
The Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime to capture their fifth Super Bowl title in 15 years.
Van Noy played a key, albeit it part-time role with the Patriots. He forced a fumble in the Patriots’ AFC championship game win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he took down Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan down for a 9-yard loss on a crucial third-and-11 play. He also split a sack with Trey Flowers on the final play of the third quarter.
It’s quite the transition from a team that has just one playoff victory since 1957.
“It might take a couple days,” he said. “I mean, I was in Detroit a couple months ago and now I’m here with that trophy. Ah, it’s beautiful.”
Ouch.
