After a decorated college career at Boston College, Koppen was taken by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Following a string of injuries, Koppen quickly saw the field, eventually becoming the starting center for the 2003 Super Bowl champs.

Belichick avoided the rows of radio reporters in the hotel lobby and spent much of the morning in a hallway outside the green room for players and coaches, down the hall from private rooms for interviews with ESPN.com, SiriusXM and the ACC Digital Network.