Former New England Patriots lef tackle Matt Light spent 11 seasons protecting Tom Brady’s blindside, earning himself three Pro Bowl nods, a 2007 first-team All-Pro selection, three Super Bowl rings, and a spot in the Patriots Hall of Fame for his efforts.
New England will hope rookie Will Campbell, who they drafted fourth overall last spring to protect quarterback Drake Maye, can have similar success during his career. Light certainly believes that it's possible.
Speaking on NBCSports Boston this week, Light said, “I like Will Campbell, I like the way he approaches the game,” adding he can “relate” to a lot of what the LSU product has gone through during his first NFL season.
Former Patriots LT Matt Light on Will Campbell:
— Will Campbell Lover (@WillCampbellLov) January 31, 2026
“There are a lot of similarities… I like Will Campbell. I like the way he approaches the game.” pic.twitter.com/tX038daXdL
How Matt Light’s rookie season mirrors that of Will Campbell
After the Patriots drafted Light in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft, he was immediately thrust into a major role, starting 12 out of the 14 games he played in the regular season and all three of the team’s playoff contests. However, like Campbell with his MCL injury, Light missed some time due to an ankle ailment as a rookie, which he also had to bounce back from to be ready for New England’s postseason run to the Super Bowl.
Light’s Patriots squad went on to win Super Bowl XXXVI against the then-St. Louis Rams during his debut NFL campaign, a result Campbell will aim to replicate as he readies to play in Super Bowl LX.
"You talk about this left tackle, there’s a lot of similarities, man," Light said. "I mean, first year, got injured, came back, is performing, going all the way to the Super Bowl. I mean, I can relate to each one of those points. … I like the way, you know, he handles the media, handles himself, and he takes it personal. He wants to be a better player tomorrow than he was today. That’s important.
Campbell must overcome some postseason struggles in Super Bowl LX
While the 22-year old has shown flashes this season of the talent New England’s front office saw when they invested a premium draft pick in him, Campbell experienced some difficulties during the playoffs against a trio of challenging defensive matchups; New England became the first team in NFL history to defeat three top-five defenses on their way to a Super Bowl berth.
In the wild-card round against the Los Angeles Chargers, Campbell posted a respectable 75.6 overall Pro Football Focus grade, but still allowed five pressures and a sack. Things got worse during the Patriots’ divisional round matchup with the Houston Texans, a contest which saw Campbell log an overall PFF grade of 45.8, as he gave up four pressures and a pair of sacks.
His play improved a bit during the AFC Championship against the Denver Broncos, as Campbell didn’t allow any sacks, though he did relent two pressures and finished the contest with a overall PFF grade of just 50.6. Campbell was also flagged for a crucial false start penalty as the first half was winding down, pushing back what would have been a 58-yard try for kicker Andy Borregales; it instead ended up being a 63-yard attempt which he ultimately missed.
The Seattle Seahawks will come into Super Bowl with the league’s sixth best defense in terms of yards allowed, and the eighth highest sack count during the regular season. Facing yet another defensive unit of that caliber, as well as potentially the best offense they’ve seen all year which may necessitate quarterback Drake Maye and company to put up more points than their prior postseason outings, New England’s championship aspirations could certainly use a strong performance from Campbell.