Community Press Release
Team congratulated by Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, enjoyed pregame warmups from the field and more during special state championship celebration at Patriots vs. Chiefs game this past Sunday
Festivities part of continued relationship between FHS football and Patriots
This past Sunday, the Kraft family hosted the Foxborough High School football team as the Patriots took on the Kansas City Chiefs for a special celebration of the team’s recent state championship. The Warriors captured the Division V crown by besting top-seeded Hanover 48-21 under the Gillette Stadium lights on Dec. 1, marking Foxborough’s first state title since 2006 and first they’ve won on the Gillette Stadium turf.
VIDEO COURTESY OF KRAFT SPORTS + ENTERTAINMENT
To commemorate this historic accomplishment, the Kraft family welcomed legendary head coach Jack Martinelli and his team to Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The team enjoyed pregame warmups from the field, were personally congratulated by Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, and joined the Patriots cheerleaders by the team tunnel as the Patriots took the field ahead of kick-off. Additionally, Coach Martinelli and team captains Shane Henri, Sullivan Kenneally, Lincoln Moore, Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady, Tony Sulham and Nathan Urman joined music legend Jon Bon Jovi at the top of the Gillette Stadium Lighthouse for the Keeper of the Light pregame ceremony. A new game day tradition, the Keeper of the Light officially gets each Patriots game underway by ringing the fog bell high atop the Lighthouse. This special game day celebration marked the latest event in the continued relationship between the Foxborough High School football team and the Patriots.
In October, 42-year head coach Martinelli notched his 300th career win, becoming just the seventh coach in the history of Massachusetts high school football to hit 300 career wins, and only the fourth to hit the milestone all with one school. This landmark accomplishment earned Coach Martinelli the well-deserved title of New England Patriots Coach of the Week. Andre Tippett, the distinguished NFL Hall of Fame linebacker, who presently holds the role of Executive Director of Community Affairs for the Patriots, personally presented Coach Martinelli with the award and met with the Warriors team on Oct. 24. During the meeting, Tippett also granted the football program with a $1,000 donation on behalf of the Kraft family, serving as a tribute to Coach Martinelli’s unwavering hard work and exceptional dedication to his team and the Foxborough community.
Coach Martinelli wasn’t the only one to hit the 300-win milestone during that week in October, as Patriots head coach Bill Belichick notched his 300th career victory following a win over the Buffalo Bills just two days later. In recognition of two legendary Foxborough coaches, Belichick took the time to send a personalized video to Martinelli and grant him a special game ball. Then, following an invite from the Kraft family for Martinelli to attend the Patriots game against the Washington Commanders, the two coaches had the chance to meet in person on the sidelines during pregame warmups.
Martinelli’s next trip to the Gillette Stadium sidelines proved to be just as memorable, as he led his Foxborough Warriors to a win in the Division V state title game against top-seeded Hanover. The state title marked the fifth overall for both Martinelli and the Foxborough football program (1987, 1988, 1991, 2006 & 2023) and a fitting end to a historic season in Foxborough.