The Team with All the Former Vikings Could Reach the Super Bowl
The New England Patriots will play in the AFC Championship on Sunday, taking on the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mike Vrabel’s team is expected to win by four or five points, and if so, seven former Minnesota Vikings players will visit the Super Bowl.
Bradbury, Diggs, Dobbs, and other ex-Vikings give New England’s AFC title chase a familiar Minnesota flavor.
There’s no real good reason for it, but New England is stuffed to the gills with ex-Vikings personnel.
Meet the Former Vikings Fueling the Patriots’ Super Bowl Push
Need a rooting interest on Sunday? The Patriots have covered, with these former Vikings players on the roster.
Garrett Bradbury (C)
Time with Vikings: 2019-2024
Bradbury hasn’t set the world on fire in New England; he’s basically carried his Vikings skill set east. He’s not a top center in the NFL, but he’s serviceable.
And that’s all New England evidently needs to reach the AFC Championship. Bradbury has also stayed healthy, playing all 17 games in 2025.
Stefon Diggs (WR)
Time with Vikings: 2015-2019
When he’s not accused of strangling chefs, Diggs cooks on the field.
He tallied 102 receptions for 1,013 yards and 4 touchdowns this season, his first in New England. He’s Drake Maye’s favorite target and could be a game-changer on Sunday at Denver.’
Diggs said this week about the Patriots’ playoff run, “I’m equally as motivated as I was last week to win the game. I try not to make things more than what they are. That was a moment in my life four or five years ago. A lot has happened since then. Be where my feet are right now. We have a great opportunity right in front of us. Everybody over here is laser-focused.”
Joshua Dobbs (QB)
Time with Vikings: 2023
In 2023, Dobbs gripped Minneapolis by the throat, and the world likened him to an astronaut for his interstellar performance over 2.56 games.
Dobbs flamed out before DobbsMania could result in a playoff push, but now he’s the guy who would take over on Sunday if Maye gets hurt.
Dobbs mentioned this week about his teammate, Maye, “I think he’s been consistent. I think we had enough success during the regular season, where it’s proof that you don’t reinvent the wheel just because the stakes get higher. Obviously, it might be a little bit more heightened awareness or attention to detail in some areas, improvements especially. But our preparation has been consistent.”
“I think our Sunday meetings go a long way with the skill guys. Just a chance to go back through all the plays in the game plan, watch the practice reps of them, clean up anything that we might have, especially with it being player-led and coming from him. I think those go a long way.”
Christian Elliss (LB)
Time with Vikings: 2021
Minnesota found Elliss in 2021 undrafted free agency, a Rick Spielman find during his final tour of duty. He fired up an unfortunate roughness penalty that preseason, and Spielman cut him two days later.
His windy NFL road took him to these spots:
- Minnesota Vikings (2021)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2021)
- San Francisco 49ers (2021)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2021–2023)
- New England Patriots (2023–now)
Now, he’s a starting inside linebacker for Mike Vrabel. Impressive.
Vederian Lowe (OT)
Time with Vikings: 2022
Lowe is a backup, so he won’t play Sunday unless injuries ruin everything.
For a year, fans envisioned Lowe as the primary backup to Christian Darrisaw, but Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded him to New England in the summer of 2023.
Jaquelin Roy (DT, IR)
Time with Vikings: 2023
Roy is on injured reserve. He won’t play in the AFC Championship. But he played 141 defensive snaps for the 2024 Patriots, logging two snaps for his troubles.
Trent Sherfield (WR, PS)
Time with Vikings: 2024
This was Minnesota’s special teams ace last year. The Vikings did not re-sign Sherfield last offseason, and he landed in Denver before a 2025 midseason roster cut shipped him to New England.
Sherfield is on the Patriots’ practice squad. He may or may not be activated for the title game.
Khyiris Tonga (DT)
Time with Vikings: 2022-2023
The Mike Donatell defense featured Tonga here and there in 2022, and most fans had him as a lock to make the 2024 roster two summers ago. But Brian Flores apparently disagreed, waiving Tonga, who later signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
Tonga has played 337 snaps this year for Vrabel. He’s an adept run-stuffer you’ll see at Denver.
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