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Speakers Friday dinner speaker: Tedy Bruschi
Constitution Ballroom, 2nd floor, Sheraton
Tedy Bruschi, named one of the top players in the New England Patriots’ 50-year history, won accolades with his all-out play and leadership on the field as well as his perseverance in working his way back to the NFL following a stroke at age 31.
When Bruschi retired in August after spending his entire 13-year career with the Patriots, coach Bill Belichick called him “the perfect player,” and team owner Robert Kraft called him “the heart and soul of the defense during the most successful era in the history of the franchise.”
Always a fan favorite, Bruschi was also admired for his accomplishments off the field and for his dedication to his family and the New England area. After Bruschi suffered his stroke, in February 2005, he dedicated himself to raising funds and awareness with the American Stroke Association. He established Tedy’s Team to help battle stroke, the leading cause of disability in the United States. Members of Tedy’s Team have run in the Boston Marathon and the Falmouth Road Race and have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for stroke research.
Eight months after surgery to repair a small hole in his heart, Bruschi became the first NFL player to return to the field after a stroke. He shared the NFL’s 2005 Comeback Player of the Year Award with Carolina’s Steve Smith.
In 2007, Bruschi published “Never Give Up: My Stroke, My Recovery, and My Return to the NFL,” written with Michael Holley.
When Bruschi was drafted by the Patriots in the third round in 1996, at just over 6 feet tall he was considered undersized for an NFL linebacker. But his hard work and versatility turned him into an All-Pro who defined the linebacker role and the Patriots’ defensive philosophy.
In his 13 seasons, Bruschi played a major part in leading the Patriots to 11 winning records, nine playoff seasons, eight division championships, five AFC titles, and three Super Bowl crowns. In his 211 career games, the Patriots had a 144-67 record, including a 16-6 playoff mark.
Bruschi quickly developed a reputation for making big plays in the biggest games. Many fans will never forget the image of him sliding on his knees in a snowy end zone after intercepting a pass against the Miami Dolphins in December 2003 – a game-changing play in a narrow victory that clinched the AFC East title for the Patriots. Fans throughout Gillette Stadium celebrated the interception by throwing snow into the air.
Bruschi also had memorable interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX and against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day in 2002. He is the only player in NFL history to return four consecutive interceptions for touchdowns.
Bruschi earned his first Pro Bowl honors following the 2004 season, after co-captaining a Patriots defense that allowed just 16.25 points per game, the third fewest in franchise history.
Bruschi played in 189 regular-season games for the Patriots, more than any other linebacker in team history, and 22 playoff games, the highest total for any Patriot. During his career, the Patriots allowed an average of 17.25 points per game, the second best total in the NFL.
Bruschi played college football at the University of Arizona, where he tied the NCAA Division I-A record for career sacks with 52.
He is now an NFL analyst with ESPN and hosts online “chats” on ESPNBoston.com.
Bruschi and his wife, Heidi, live in North Attleborough with their three sons.
Speakers Friday dinner speaker: Tedy Bruschi
Friday dinner speaker: Tedy Bruschi
Constitution Ballroom, 2nd floor, Sheraton
Tedy Bruschi, named one of the top players in the New England Patriots’ 50-year history, won accolades with his all-out play and leadership on the field as well as his perseverance in working his way back to the NFL following a stroke at age 31.When Bruschi retired in August after spending his entire 13-year career with the Patriots, coach Bill Belichick called him “the perfect player,” and team owner Robert Kraft called him “the heart and soul of the defense during the most successful era in the history of the franchise.”
Always a fan favorite, Bruschi was also admired for his accomplishments off the field and for his dedication to his family and the New England area. After Bruschi suffered his stroke, in February 2005, he dedicated himself to raising funds and awareness with the American Stroke Association. He established Tedy’s Team to help battle stroke, the leading cause of disability in the United States. Members of Tedy’s Team have run in the Boston Marathon and the Falmouth Road Race and have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for stroke research.
Eight months after surgery to repair a small hole in his heart, Bruschi became the first NFL player to return to the field after a stroke. He shared the NFL’s 2005 Comeback Player of the Year Award with Carolina’s Steve Smith.
In 2007, Bruschi published “Never Give Up: My Stroke, My Recovery, and My Return to the NFL,” written with Michael Holley.
When Bruschi was drafted by the Patriots in the third round in 1996, at just over 6 feet tall he was considered undersized for an NFL linebacker. But his hard work and versatility turned him into an All-Pro who defined the linebacker role and the Patriots’ defensive philosophy.
In his 13 seasons, Bruschi played a major part in leading the Patriots to 11 winning records, nine playoff seasons, eight division championships, five AFC titles, and three Super Bowl crowns. In his 211 career games, the Patriots had a 144-67 record, including a 16-6 playoff mark.
Bruschi quickly developed a reputation for making big plays in the biggest games. Many fans will never forget the image of him sliding on his knees in a snowy end zone after intercepting a pass against the Miami Dolphins in December 2003 – a game-changing play in a narrow victory that clinched the AFC East title for the Patriots. Fans throughout Gillette Stadium celebrated the interception by throwing snow into the air.
Bruschi also had memorable interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX and against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day in 2002. He is the only player in NFL history to return four consecutive interceptions for touchdowns.
Bruschi earned his first Pro Bowl honors following the 2004 season, after co-captaining a Patriots defense that allowed just 16.25 points per game, the third fewest in franchise history.
Bruschi played in 189 regular-season games for the Patriots, more than any other linebacker in team history, and 22 playoff games, the highest total for any Patriot. During his career, the Patriots allowed an average of 17.25 points per game, the second best total in the NFL.
Bruschi played college football at the University of Arizona, where he tied the NCAA Division I-A record for career sacks with 52.
He is now an NFL analyst with ESPN and hosts online “chats” on ESPNBoston.com.
Bruschi and his wife, Heidi, live in North Attleborough with their three sons.
