Super Bowl 53: Takeaways and lasting impressions

Kyle Van Noy is the new heart and soul of this defense.

After getting drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Van Noy languished in Detroit for two-and-a-half seasons before getting shipped to the Patriots in exchange for a 2017 draft pick that ended up being Brad Kaaya. Considering Kaaya has twice been cut by the Lions and is on his third team in less than two seasons, it seems fair to say the Patriots got the better end of the stick on this one.

Van Noy made a name for himself this season, particularly in the playoffs, after bringing the heat on Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game and then on Jared Goff in Super Bowl 53. His rise might look meteoric to the naked eye, but it’s actually been a long, steady climb to the top for this linebacker out of Brigham Young.

Every one of Van Noy’s six seasons in the league has seen him improve his tackle total from the previous year. He’s also racked up 10 sacks in less than three years with New England, after picking up just one in that same amount of time in Detroit. When you add in two more forced fumbles, two more fumble recoveries, and two more interceptions during his Patriots tenure – and then you learn he had exactly zero of any of those with the Lions – it’s obvious that all this guy really needed to succeed was a change of scenery.

Van Noy had another three sacks and a forced fumble in the 2018/2019 postseason alone. He is not only an ascendant player coming into his prime; he also just might be the new heart and soul of this Patriots defense. His play on the field – coupled with his personality off the field through interviews and social media – makes him a worthy candidate as the team transitions into the new league year.