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SALT LAKE CITY — In a matter of weeks, the reclamation project transformed from disappointment to a valuable contributor on an NFL championship-winning team.
Obviously, after the New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons in the first overtime game in Super Bowl history, Kyle Van Noy is loving life. The former star linebacker at BYU said he can’t stop smiling, knowing that he played on the winning team in the most exciting NFL title game ever.
“That feeling is phenomenal,” said Van Noy, who returned to Utah the week after the game. “As a kid and as a professional athlete, you dream of moments like that. To be part of the one greatest games of all time, words can’t express how grateful am I.”
Midway through the season, the playoffs — let alone, the Super Bowl — probably were not dancing through Van Noy’s mind. At the time, after playing through a series of injuries and a change in the team’s management, he was toiling without as much success as expected for the Detroit Lions.
But the course of his life changed dramatically on Oct. 25, when Van Noy got traded to the perennial contenders. Coming out of BYU in 2014, the Lions traded up to draft Van Noy in the second round, only to eventually ship him off in exchange for a late-round pick.
After taking two weeks to learn the Patriots' system, Van Noy stepped into his role and played well immediately. In the AFC championship game, he graded out as New England’s highest-rated defensive player, according to ProFootballFocus.
“The Detroit thing didn’t work out,” Van Noy said, “and that’s OK because the Patriots wanted me.”
Related:
Lions deal former BYU linebacker Van Noy to Patriots
Former BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy has been traded to the New England Patriots for a seventh-round pick, as reported Tuesday by NFL.com.In Van Noy’s case, it was the legendary Bill Belichick who wanted him. The Patriots coach, who has won five Super Bowls along with quarterback Tom Brady, stole the linebacker away from a non-playoff team for practically nothing.
No wonder Van Noy has no problem saying Belichick resurrected his career. Interestingly, based on feedback, Van Noy thought the New England would draft him.
Soon after he broke into the playing rotation, the Patriots trusted Van Noy enough to call the alignments based on the opponents' offensive schemes. He quickly built a strong relationship with the coaches by spending 15-hour days at the team’s facility.
Belichick “always said he really liked how I played football and how smart I was, and then he ended up finally getting me,” Van Noy said. “He plays to my strengths and he lets me play football.
“They let the players play, and that’s what I’m all about.”
The newfound confidence allowed him to cut loose like he did in college. In BYU's 23-6 victory over San Diego State in the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl, Van Noy dominated with eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and interception for touchdowns and a blocked punt.
Van Noy, who played for Bronco Mendenhall in college, can see similarities in Belichick and BYU coach Kalani Sitake. Both coaches, he said, put their players in the best positions to succeed as opposed to trying to fit them into a system.
He also likes that Sitake is trying to upgrade BYU’s talent level. During his time in college, Van Noy thought BYU’s starters could compete well with most teams but the depth was not nearly good enough.
“He plays to his team’s strength,” Van Noy said. “That’s one thing I liked about New England — they play to everybody’s strength. They’re not set on one system.”
Always willing to speak his mind, Van Noy also is ready for his alma mater to break a six-game losing streak to rival Utah. His teams lost all four games to Utah, a fact that New England teammate and former Utah cornerback Eric Rowe has noted to him.
Van Noy remains baffled that Utah committed six turnovers and still beat the Cougars last season. He also didn’t get how BYU also lost to Boise State.
“I don’t understand how you can’t win games when you have six turnovers,” he said. “That’s one thing that baffles me.”
