Flags, Fear, and the Birth of a Dynasty | New England Patriots News

When the NFL returned just two weeks after 9/11, the Patriots vs. Jets game became a national moment of unity. Offensive guard Joe Andruzzi, whose three firefighter brothers were in NYC that day, ran onto the field waving American flags — a raw, powerful symbol for a grieving nation. His brothers’ survival was uncertain for 12 hours, and one narrowly escaped Tower One’s collapse. Players carried trauma into the game, even a flyover triggered fear. The pregame ceremony, with first responders at midfield, turned emotional when Andruzzi grabbed flags from the tunnel wall — sparking an unforgettable roar of unity. That same afternoon, Tom Brady entered the game for the first time as starter, beginning his legendary Patriots run — a season that ended in a Super Bowl win he later dedicated to the heroes of 9/11. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/98b877a19de80e8b