Sports

Big day for The Big Man: Thoughts on Wilfork

FOXBORO — An eventful day in Foxboro as the Patriots and Jaguars conduct a walkthrough practice before they play each other on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium and then an emotional ceremony honoring long-time defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, who announced his retirement on Monday.

The 35-year-old Wilfork stood on stage in front of a podium at the Optum Club at Gillette Stadium after signing a one-day contract with the Patriots.

"I believed I was the baddest person at the field at all times," he said after Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick both spoke glowingly about the 11 years Wilfork spent in Foxboro.

Wilfork talked about his decision to leave the game.

"After 20 years in football, 13 in the NFL, I"m finally calling it quits from a game that I truly, truly, truly love," said Wilfork.

"It was truly an honor to have coached him - best defensive lineman I have ever coached," said Bill Belichick.

"As a fan when that moment of truth came and Vince had to move on, it was a very sad time for all of us," said Kraft as he reflected on Wilfork leaving the Patriots in the 2015 offseason to sign with the Houston Texans.

"But the good news is he is coming back here and has asked to be a Patriot for life so we are going to sign a contract," Kraft announced, right before handing Wilfork a "Patriots contract for life" to sign.

in front of a throng of media and several dozen Patriots players, coaches and staff, Wilfork thanked Belichick for "making me the best player I could be."

Vince concluded by referencing his parents (David and Barbara Wilfork) and saying, "The only one thing I regret - that my parents didn't get to see their son live out a dream he told them at the age of four I was going to be."

Wilfork won two Super Bowls with the Patriots in his 11 years in Foxboro.

"Now it's to the point where it's taking a toll on me mentally," said Wilfork, 35, on his motivation to leave the game now.

"Mentally there comes a point where you think, waking up ... what you have to take your body through just to get warmed up, you don't get younger."

Both Belichick and Kraft said Wilfork was a special part of the Patriots, not just for his on-field prowess but for his leadership in the locker room.

"He was kind of the captain of the captains," said Belichick.