May 7, 2012

The New England Patriots have announced that former Purdue tackle Matt Light has retired after 11 professional seasons in the National Football League.

"Matt is the best I've been around," Purdue head coach Danny Hope said. "He is an outstanding leader, a great teammate and an unbelievable person. He brought all of those qualities to the game, and was a real difference-maker both on and off the field."

Hope was his position coach at Purdue where Light spent three seasons (1998-2000) protecting future Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees at left tackle. He was a first team All-Big Ten selection his senior season in 2000 and a second team choice as a junior. He originally joined the Boilermakers as a tight end out of Greenville High School in Greenville, Ohio.

Light was selected by New England in the second round with the 48th overall pick of the 2001 NFL Draft, where he went on to appear in 175 games, starting 173 at left tackle for the Patriots. Light started in five Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXIX, XLII and XLVI), the most by any former Boilermaker in school history, and won three championship rings with the Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXIX). He earned Pro Bowl honors three times and was selected to the New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team.