Jan. 25, 2026, 12:52 p.m. ET
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs strongly considered playing for his AFC Championship Game opponent in the Denver Broncos in free agency.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that Diggs narrowed his search down to the Patriots as well as the Broncos:
“Meanwhile, for the New England Patriots, they are in the AFC title game in part on the strength of one of their big-time free agent signings Stefon Diggs, who has been a revelation and potential Comeback Player of the Year coming off an ACL. My understanding Rich, in free agency, it was down to the Patriots and the Broncos. Diggs chose the Patriots. Now faces the Broncos today,” Rapoport said.
Diggs, 32, signed a three-year, $63.5 million deal with the Patriots on March 8, 2025, as opposed to joining the Broncos. After playing in only eight games for the Houston Texans last season due to a torn ACL suffered in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts, the Maryland product recorded 1,013 receiving yards in 2025 — his seventh career season with over 1,000 yards in that department.
Diggs now has the opportunity to put his storied losses in the 2018 NFC Championship Game, as well as the 2021 AFC Championship Game, behind him as his Patriots look to defeat a Broncos team that he strongly considered signing with. A win on Sunday will see Diggs make it to the Super Bowl for the first time in his career.
