*Foxborough, Ma. - *Three-time Super Bowl Champion and Patriots Hall of Famer Tedy Bruschi will serve as the team's honorary captain for the AFC Championship Game this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
New England will play in its 13th AFC Championship Game, its 12th under the ownership of Robert Kraft, the seventh at home and its sixth at Gillette Stadium, when they host the AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers with a trip to Super Bowl LI on the line.
To help celebrate Championship Sunday, Bruschi will be a part of the pregame festivities when he will accompany the team captains at midfield for the coin toss prior to the game.
"With an undefeated record in games that we have honored him, I can't think of a more perfect player to serve as honorary captain this Sunday," said Kraft. "He was called the perfect Patriot by head coach Bill Belichick, and he has lived up to that nickname with an 8-0 record in games where he has been a part of a Patriots celebration."
Bruschi has been honored eight times by the Patriots since he retired prior to the start of the 2009 season. The Patriots won all eight of those games. Below is a list of the games when Bruschi was honored by the Patriots.
1.) Bruschi's first honor was at halftime of the Patriots' 25-24 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 9, 2009, when members of the 50th Anniversary team were recognized.
2.) He had an opportunity to thank the fans at halftime as part of "Tedy Bruschi Night" in a 45-3 "Monday Night Football" win over the New York Jets on Dec. 6, 2010.
3.) Bruschi was an honorary game captain in the Patriots' 23-20 2011 AFC Championship win over Baltimore on Jan. 22, 2012.
4.) Bruschi was honored in a halftime ceremony to celebrate his induction into the team's Hall of Fame in the Patriots' 13-10 win over the New York Jets on Sept. 12, 2013.
5.) Bruschi was honored at halftime of the Patriots' 43-21 victory over Denver on Nov. 2, 2014, when the Patriots honored the players that won three Super Bowls with the team.
6.) Bruschi served as an honorary captain in the Patriots' 45-7 AFC Championship Game win vs. Indianapolis on Jan. 18, 2015.
7.) Bruschi served as an honorary captain in the Patriots 28-14 Super Bowl XLIX victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 1, 2015.
8.) Bruschi was part of the halftime ceremony that honored the 15th anniversary of the Super Bowl XXXVI victory over the St. Louis Rams, when the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams, 26-10 on Dec. 4, 2016.
