Lombardi Trophy comes home to R.I.

IN FRONT OF 5,000 Rhode Island fans at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Tuesday, New England Patriots star player Rob Gronkowski raised the Vince Lombardi Trophy the team claimed for winning its fifth Super Bowl on Feb. 5. It was a moment that many of the fans wanted to capture for themselves on their phones. / PBN PHOTO/NICOLE DOTZENROD
IN FRONT OF 5,000 Rhode Island fans at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Tuesday, New England Patriots star player Rob Gronkowski raised the Vince Lombardi Trophy the team claimed for winning its fifth Super Bowl on Feb. 5. It was a moment that many of the fans wanted to capture for themselves on their phones. / PBN PHOTO/NICOLE DOTZENROD

PROVIDENCE – On Sunday, Feb. 5, the New England Patriots made history by recovering from a 25-point deficit to win their fifth Super Bowl, beating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28. Tuesday, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo joined Patriots players and the Kraft family for a free rally to celebrate the victory at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence.

Plans for the rally were set in motion Monday morning after Raimondo texted Patriots president Jonathan Kraft to invite the team to Providence.

“We asked them to come to Rhode Island, and they said when and where?” Raimondo said at the rally.

In an unprecedented proclamation, Raimondo declared Tuesday, Feb. 7, New England Patriots Day in Rhode Island.

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“New Englanders are gritty, determined people and we don’t quit. When Tom Brady, James White, Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman and the entire Patriots squad marched back from a 25-point deficit last night, they showed the entire nation what New Englanders are made of,” Raimondo said in a statement Monday. “Rhode Island is the heart of Patriots Nation, and I’m thrilled to host members of our favorite team to celebrate the latest and sweetest Super Bowl victory in franchise history.”

More than 5,000 fans were in attendance as owners Robert and Jonathan Kraft and players Rob Gronkowski, Trey Flowers, David Andrews, Rob Ninkovich, James Develin and Joe Thuney thanked Rhode Islanders for their support. Kraft said he believes Rhode Island is the best state in New England for fan support.

“We love you Lil Rhody,” said Develin, who played football for Brown University. “Now it’s a drive for six!”

When fan favorite Gronkowski nearly dropped a Vince Lombardi Trophy as he attempted to simultaneously balance all five trophies the team has collected for winning the Super Bowl, his teammates were there to save the day. In line with his usual antics, Gronkowski later took off his jersey and threw it into the crowd. When he asked attendees how they feel about Roger Goodell, they sounded off with a chorus of boos.

The event was sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees of Rhode Island and Bristol County, Massachusetts.

“Our customers in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts (not to mention my fellow franchisees and myself!) are die-hard Patriots fans, so we couldn’t be more proud to sponsor this afternoon’s rally at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center,” said Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner Joe Prazeres. “We thank Governor Raimondo and her team for their fast efforts to bring this event to life, and we look forward to joining our customers and the rest of Patriot Nation this afternoon as the Lombardi Trophy comes to Providence.”

The Voice finalist Billy Gilman, who was raised in Richmond, sang the National Anthem at the rally – but Gilman isn’t the only Rhode Island native who returned home. The Lombardi Trophy was manufactured by Tiffany & Co. at their Forest Hill plant in Cumberland.

The trophy still features its original design, a sterling silver, regulation-sized football in kicking position. The 22-inch-high trophy weighs nearly seven pounds and takes approximately four months to finish.

Soon, this year’s edition of the Lombardi Trophy will return to the workshop in Cumberland, where it will be hand-engraved with the words: “New England Patriots, Super Bowl LI Champions.”

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