Hogan plays hero:
Lacrosse player-turned-receiver steps into spotlight
Chris Hogan relishes chances as Patriots’ latest postseason gem.
FOXBOROUGH, MASS. New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan set a franchise playoff record Sunday in the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Not bad for a former lacrosse player from Penn State who played one season of football at Monmouth University.
“It has been a long journey, but I’ve worked really hard to get to this point, and I just couldn’t be happier that I get to be a part of this team, this whole thing,” Hogan said.
Hogan caught nine of his 12 targets for 180 yards — a postseason high for the franchise — and two touchdowns.
“They call him 7-11 because he’s always open,” tight end Martellus Bennett said. “He clocked in today, and he made sure the store stayed open.”
Last week, it was running back Dion Lewis who served as New England’s X factor. Sunday, it was Hogan. And when the Patriots play the Atlanta Falcons on Feb. 5 in Super Bowl LI, Hogan’s bigplay, deep-threat ability could be an essential wrinkle in New England’s offensive plan.
“He’s been incredible,” quarterback Tom Brady said. “I mean, to lead the league in average yards per catch is spectacular. He’s made big plays for us all season. He made big plays in the biggest game of the year for us.”
Hogan’s first score came on a play in which the Steelers left him uncovered in the back of the end zone, and his second was on a flea flicker.
“He had a great week of practice,” receiver Julian Edelman said. “He’s been playing well all year. All those things kind of collided, and he had that day. It was an unbelievable day for him.
“Anytime you’ve got guys making those plays, it’s going to be great for the offense. He deserves it. He’s been working his tail off.”
It helped that the Steelers played zone coverage for most of the game and relied on their de- fensive front — which failed, for the most part — to pressure Brady.
“He just kind of sprung free in the back of the end zone,” Brady said. “I let it loose, and he was open.”
With a personal rooting section at the game numbering about 15 strong — a group that covered his hometown of Wyckoff, N.J., his high school, both colleges he attended as well as his family — Hogan made sure to point skyward to all of them after his first touchdown.
In the stands, the happiness was for him, for the fulfillment of a seeming athletic destiny, for the perseverance and dedication it took to make it happen.
“I remember growing up we’d hang out in my basement watching NFL football, and when Chris went to college to play lacrosse, it seemed like the end of football for him. But it was always in his head,” his best friend, Mike Esposito, said from the stairs underneath Section 201.
“To see him pursue his dream and live it to the fullest, I’m a proud best friend.”
Hogan was signed as a free agent last offseason after the Buffalo Bills declined to match New Engand’s offer sheet in March. Hogan responded by posting or matching career highs in the regular season in yards (680), touchdown receptions (four) and yards per catch (17.9, best in the league).
“I’m just happy to take advantage of this opportunity, you know, to be a part of this team,” Hogan said. “This whole team has worked so hard starting in April in OTAs. We’ve grinded throughout this entire year. This is what we worked for, and this is what we wanted to get to.
“It’s a special moment for all of these guys in this locker room. We’ll enjoy this and get back to work because we’ve got one more.”