Editing Matt Light (section)

===New England Patriots===
Light was drafted in the second round (48th overall) of the [[2001 NFL draft]] by the [[New England Patriots]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/draft.htm |access-date=March 18, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He started 12 of 14 games played during his rookie season in [[2001 New England Patriots season|2001]], helping a Patriots running game which averaged 112.2 yards per game. He was the starting left tackle for an offensive line that led the way for 133 yards on 25 carries (5.3 yard average) in the Patriots 20–17 victory in [[Super Bowl XXXVI]] over the [[St. Louis Rams]]. He was named to the ''Football News'' 2001 NFL All-Rookie Team following the season. Light returned in [[2002 New England Patriots season|2002]] to start all 16 games at left tackle for the Patriots, who missed the [[2002–03 NFL playoffs|playoffs]].

In [[2003 New England Patriots season|2003]], Light again started 16 games, and earned his second [[Super Bowl ring]] after helping to not allow a sack against a [[Carolina Panthers]] defensive line in [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]] that featured [[Kris Jenkins]], [[Mike Rucker]], [[Brentson Buckner]] and [[Julius Peppers]]. Light was a part of an offensive line that enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in club history in [[2004 New England Patriots season|2004]], starting 16 games at left tackle and helping the team to average more than four yards per carry for the first time in 19 seasons and helping [[Corey Dillon]] set a single season franchise record with 1,635 rushing yards. In October 2004, he signed a six-year contract extension with the team worth [[United States dollar|$]]27 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2004/10/06/light_receives_6_year_extension/|title=Light receives 6-year extension|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|author-link=Nick Cafardo|first=Nick|last=Cafardo|date=October 6, 2004|access-date=June 18, 2010}}</ref> He earned his third Super Bowl ring in a win over the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in [[Super Bowl XXXIX]].

Light began the [[2005 New England Patriots season|2005 season]] just as he did the previous three, starting at left tackle before a broken leg suffered against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in Week 3 kept him inactive for the next 11 games and eventually led to his placement on [[injured reserve]] on December 22. He returned in [[2006 New England Patriots season|2006]] to start 16 games. His play earned him an appearance in the [[2007 Pro Bowl]], the first Pro Bowl appearance of his career, where he replaced the injured [[Jonathan Ogden]].

In [[2007 New England Patriots season|2007]], Light started all 16 games and all three [[2007–08 NFL playoffs|playoff]] games for the Patriots, including their loss to the [[New York Giants]] in [[Super Bowl XLII]], when the Patriots offensive line allowed five sacks of quarterback [[Tom Brady]]. He was one of eight Patriots players, and one of three Patriots offensive linemen (joining [[Dan Koppen]] and [[Logan Mankins]]) elected in December 2007 to the [[2008 Pro Bowl]].

In the [[2008 New England Patriots season|2008 season]], started 16 games for the sixth time in his career. After being named to the Patriots 50th anniversary team in August 2009, Light started the first five games of [[2009 New England Patriots season|2009]] before missing five games due to an injury. He returned in Week 12 and started the remainder of the season at left tackle. In [[2010 New England Patriots season|2010]], Light started all 16 games at left tackle and was named as an injury replacement to the [[2010 Pro Bowl]].

On July 31, 2011, Matt Light signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/index.php/2011/07/31/patriots-lt-matt-light-is-returning-to-protect-qb-tom-bradys-blindside/|title=Patriots Matt Light is Returning to protect QB Tom Brady's Blindside|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|first=Ian|last=Rapoport|date=July 31, 2011|access-date=July 31, 2011}}</ref>

At the end of the 2011 season, Light and the Patriots appeared in [[Super Bowl XLVI]]. He started in the game, but the Patriots lost to the [[New York Giants]] by a score of 21–17.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201202050nwe.htm |title=Super Bowl XLVI - New York Giants vs. New England Patriots - February 5th, 2012 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=December 6, 2017}}</ref>