By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
Nearly 250 students filled the gymnasium at Roosevelt Elementary School on Friday, Feb. 6, buzzing with excitement for their monthly school assembly — one made extra special by a hometown hero’s visit.
Former New England Patriots defensive lineman Chris Sullivan, a North Attleborough native and Super Bowl champion, joined students to celebrate the Patriots’ return to the Super Bowl this weekend while sharing lessons about hard work, gratitude and staying connected to where you come from.
“I learned to never give up and to always listen to your coaches,” said third grader Cayson Blaisdell after the assembly, decked out in his “I Love Drake Maye” shirt.
Sullivan, who helped the Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002, passed around his ring for the students, then signed shirts and hats, drawing wide smiles and enthusiastic applause.
A graduate of North Attleborough High School, Sullivan went on to attend Boston College before being drafted into the NFL in 1996. He played for the Patriots from 1996 to 1999, spent the 2000 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and returned to New England in 2001 — the year the team captured its first Super Bowl title.
Speaking to students, Sullivan reflected on that championship moment and what mattered most to him when the final whistle blew.
“I think back 20 or 30 years ago and realize I’m getting very old,” he joked. “But the thing I think about most is that when we won the game, my family was there. I grew up in North Attleborough, I’ve been in this area for 50 years, and I love this town.”
Sullivan said winning the Super Bowl prompted reflection on the people and community that shaped him.
“When we won, I was thinking about where I came from and all the people who helped me along the way,” he said. “North Attleborough did a lot for me, my family did a lot for me, and a lot of people in my life helped me get to that point.”
Roosevelt Elementary Principal Jeannine Magliocco used the visit as a teaching moment, asking Sullivan what it takes to reach a goal like playing in the NFL and competing in the Super Bowl.
“It takes a lot of discipline, and it takes a lot of help along the way,” Sullivan told students. “I had great people in my life — my high school coaches, my college coach, my teachers — and I listened to them. That was really important.”
He emphasized that success was the result of consistent effort and guidance from others.
“It took a lot of work — extra workouts, extra practice, extra running — but it also took a lot of people helping me get there,” he said.
Magliocco later pointed to a sign displayed prominently in the gym, outlining the expectations of Roosevelt students – practice respect, act responsibly, be careful and safe, and keep learning – and asked Sullivan which of those values played the biggest role in his success.
“That’s a tough one,” Sullivan said. “I don’t think you can pick just one. It’s a combination of all of them. My family and this town taught me to respect everyone — classmates, teammates and people in your life. You should never stop learning, and all of those things are important if you want to live a healthy, happy, productive life.”
As the assembly wrapped up, Magliocco asked Sullivan what he would be thinking about while watching the Super Bowl this weekend. Sullivan shared that he once played alongside Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and his pride at seeing the team return to the league’s biggest stage.
“There are a lot of teams that haven’t seen a Super Bowl in 30 or 40 years,” he said. “Coach Vrabel coaches the right way. He’s tough, he cares about his players and he looks out for their best interests — just like your teachers and administrators do here.”
Magliocco thanked Sullivan for his message, noting that his words reinforced the importance of strong values, listening to educators and using guidance from others to grow into the people students hope to become.
Before Sullivan left, he encouraged students to recognize the adults supporting them every day.
“When you’re done here today, thank them,” Sullivan said. “This is pretty special.”
Later this month, Sullivan will be honored for those same values, when he and the late Lenore Paquin receive the North Attleborough Alumni Association’s Community Impact Awards in recognition of their dedication to service and contributions to the community.