Fans gathered at Gillette Stadium to greet the New England Patriots as they returned home from Houston after their Super Bowl victory on Monday afternoon.
The team flew into Logan International Airport after 4 p.m. before boarding buses to take them to Foxboro. A huge crowd gathered outside Gillette to welcome the team home.
As soon as the players got off the buses, many started high fiving cheering fans who had waited for hours to see them.
“Mingo came right by us, gave us a nice big high 5,” said Patrick Bullen of Franklin. “And it just meant a lot seeing everyone come out here and showing the fans love and that we show for them.”
Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia carried the Lombardi Trophy off the bus and then showed it off proudly to the cheering fans.
“Oh my God it was freaking amazing to see all the players - I don't care who, I just love seeing them all,” said Erika Malinowski, of Mansfield.
“I got to see Bennett and he touched my hand and I was just really excited. I didn't get to see the trophy because I was too far back,” said Leanne Consalvo, of Middleboro. “But just all the excitement from all the fans... this is history and it's just awesome.”
After their arrival, Patriots players held a media availability in the locker room where some were still wearing their "Super Bowl Champions" hats that were handed to them on the field after winning the NFL title.
A Patriots victory parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday. It will start in Back Bay at Boylston and Dalton streets before turning onto Tremont Street and winding its way to City Hall. There is a chance of rain or snow during the parade.
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The Patriots comeback in Sunday night's game will go down in sports history after they pulled themselves back from a 25-point deficit against the Atlanta Falcons to eke out a 34-28 win. It was the first overtime game in Super Bowl history.
It was the Patriots' fifth championship, and quarterback Tom Brady won his fourth MVP award. He now has the most Super Bowl rings of any quarterback.
Before leaving Houston, Brady accepted the Super Bowl MVP trophy from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday morning, a moment many Patriots fans had been anxiously awaiting after Goodell suspended Brady for the first four games of this season as a result of the "Deflategate" saga.
