Matt Light’s Wild Turkey Adventures Behind Gillette Stadium
When Matt Light wasn’t busy shielding Tom Brady from blitzing defenders, he was indulging in a very different kind of pursuit—hunting wild turkeys. The former New England Patriots left tackle recently revealed his unique hobby during an appearance on the Games with Names podcast, where he spoke with his former teammate Julian Edelman.
According to Light, his hunting grounds were none other than the woods behind Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. He credited Patriots owner Robert Kraft for turning a blind eye to his unconventional pastime. “I hunted that property for years,” Light shared. “Mr. Kraft was like, ‘I don’t know anything about it,’ and I took that as a green light.”
Balancing OTAs and Hunting Season
Light’s passion for turkey hunting coincided perfectly with spring hunting season in Massachusetts, which typically runs from late April to late May. That’s also when NFL teams conduct their voluntary off-season workouts (OTAs). Light found a way to juggle both, often heading out before sunrise to set up his hunting blind before reporting to the stadium.
One memorable morning, however, his secret hobby came to light—literally. A security guard approached Light and informed him that hunting on stadium property wasn’t allowed. Light’s response? “I’m going to do it anyway.”
The day proved eventful. “I set up my tent, waited for the bird to gobble, and when it landed next to my decoy, I shot it,” Light recounted. He then cleaned the bird, bagged it, and—without missing a beat—stored it in the team fridge.
The image of Tom Brady reaching for his protein shake only to encounter a freshly hunted turkey breast remains a humorous thought.
Belichick Lays Down the Law
Not everyone was amused by Light’s outdoor exploits. One morning, head coach Bill Belichick spotted Light eating breakfast and addressed the issue. “Bill walked in and said, ‘You can’t have a weapon on stadium property,’” Light recalled. “I tried to argue that I was using a bow and arrow, not a gun, but Bill wasn’t having it.”
Ultimately, Light decided it wasn’t worth challenging Belichick on the finer points of stadium policy. “I second-guessed myself after that,” he admitted.
The Spiritual Side of Hunting
Although Belichick shut down his stadium hunting adventures, Light didn’t give up his favorite hobby. On The Bulletin podcast, he described his deep connection to turkey hunting, calling it a spiritual experience.
“There’s something about being in nature, observing, and staying quiet,” he explained. “It’s like meditation or being in church—it centers you. Chasing wild turkeys in the spring probably saved my career or at least prolonged it.”
Light’s love for the outdoors helped him find balance during his 11-year NFL career, all spent with the Patriots. Selected in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft out of Purdue, Light won three Super Bowls and earned a spot in the Patriots Hall of Fame.
While his legacy includes accolades like the All-Dynasty Team and the Patriots 50th Anniversary Team, Light may also hold the unofficial title of being the only player to ever stash a freshly hunted bird in the team fridge. For that, he’s in a league of his own.
