Matt Light Matthew Charles Light ( born June 23 , 1978 ) is a former American football offensive tackle who spent his entire 10 - year career playing for the New England Patriots of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Purdue University . He was picked by the Patriots in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft . Early years . Light was born in Greenville , Ohio . He attended Greenville High School , where he played football as a three - year two - way starter . On defense , he played linebacker and was a second - team Division II all - state selection at the position , and as a senior earned all - county , all - conference , and all - district honors after making 69 tackles and forcing two fumbles . On offense , he played guard as a sophomore , tackle as a junior , and tight end as a senior , when he caught four passes for 75 yards and a touchdown . He also competed in the shot put in track and field , and was a district champion as well as an all - county and all - conference selection . College career . Following high school , Light attended Purdue University , beginning his career as a true freshman tight end in 1996 , appearing in seven games as a reserve and making one reception for 16 yards . He redshirt ed the 1997 season after undergoing left shoulder surgery in the spring . In 1998 , he moved to left tackle , starting 13 games and earning an honorable mention All - Big Ten Conference selection as part of an offensive line that only allowed 16 sacks of future Super Bowl MVP quarterback Drew Brees . In 1999 , Light started 12 games for an offensive line that allowed just 15 sacks , earning second - team All - Big Ten honors . In his senior season , 2000 , Light earned first - team All - Big Ten recognition after starting 12 games at left tackle , helping an offensive line that gave up only seven sacks en route to a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl Game appearance . Professional career . New England Patriots . Light was drafted in the second round ( 48th overall ) of the 2001 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots . He started 12 of 14 games played during his rookie season in 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 to start all 16 games at left tackle for the Patriots , who missed the playoffs . In 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 , 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 $ 27 million . He earned his third Super Bowl ring in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX . Light began the 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 to start 16 games . He was elected to the 2007 Pro Bowl , replacing the injured Jonathan Ogden , which was Light ' s first career Pro Bowl appearance . In 2007 , Light started all 16 games and all three 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 season , started 16 games for the sixth time in his career . He was ejected from a November 23 game against the Miami Dolphins for fighting with Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder , who was also ejected . After being named to the Patriots 50th anniversary team in August 2009 , Light started the first five games of 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 , Light started all 16 games at left tackle and was named as an injury replacement to the 2011 Pro Bowl . On July 31 , 2011 , Matt Light signed a two year contract with the New England Patriots . Retirement / Broadcasting Career . On May 7 , 2012 , Light officially announced his retirement in a press conference at Gillette Stadium . On July 19 , 2012 it was announced that Matt Light would join ESPN as an NFL analyst . He will contribute to SportsCenter , Sunday NFL Countdown , NFL Live , ESPN First Take and NFL32 .