Reporting from HOUSTON — New England Patriots running back James White enjoyed a career night in the biggest game of his life.
White caught a Super Bowl-record 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 29 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner, in the New England Patriots’ 34-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium.
“It’s really surreal,” White said. “I was just living in the moment. I wasn’t paying attention to how many catches I had, how many yards I had. I just wanted to keep moving the chains no matter what it took.”
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White, a fourth-round draft pick from Wisconsin in 2014, caught 60 passes for 551 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season. He rushed for 166 yards in 39 carries in a backfield that includes LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis.
But White was the star Sunday and helped the Patriots stage the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.
With the Patriots trailing 28-3 early in the third quarter, White scored on a five-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady.
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Then, with 57 seconds remaining in regulation, he rushed for a one-yard touchdown that pulled the Patriots to within 28-26. Brady’s pass to Danny Amendola sent the game into overtime.
The Patriots got the ball to start overtime and Brady passed to White for a six-yard gain to get things rolling.
White was stopped for a three-yard loss on another reception but picked up 10 yards on another. On second and goal from the two-yard line, White took a handoff and ran into history.
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“He’s just everything you want in a teammate and a football player and [he’s] been dependable, consistent, durable,” Brady said. “The best attitude, brings it every day and we just kept going to him. So I think that speaks for itself.”
Super family
Former Rams defensive lineman Chris Long, who signed with the Patriots in March, added another Super Bowl title to the family.
Long’s father, Howie, won a Super Bowl with the Raiders.
“I didn’t sign to get paid,” Chris Long said. “I didn’t sign to resurrect my career. I just wanted to win. When I was coming off the last year, I just hoped I could sneak onto a team. I didn’t know where my body was going to be. Well, I turned out to feel pretty good and I feel like I played a role. So I’m very happy to be here.”
Jones spectacular
Falcons receiver Julio Jones put on a show, catching four passes for 87 yards.
Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, coaching Jones for the final time before Shanahan becomes head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, did not get him involved until the second quarter.
The dominating receiver showed his strength by grabbing a 19-yard reception over the middle in traffic and then got open on the next play for a 23-yard gain.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is surrounded by reporters and photographers after defeating the Falcons, 34-28, in overtime of Super Bowl LI.
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Quarterback Tom Brady celebrates after the Patriots defeated the Falcons, 34-28, in overtime at Super Bowl LI. (Darron Cummings / Associated Press)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates with wife Gisele Bundchen and daughter Vivian Brady after winning Super Bowl LI.
(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Patriots running back James White (on ground) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Falcons in overtime of Super Bowl LI.
(Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Patriots players celebrate with commemorative edition newspapers after their overtime win in Super Bowl LI.
(Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)
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Patriots owner Robert Kraft holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the awards presentation for Super Bowl LI.
(Darron Cummings / Associated Press)
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Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers gets his turn with the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the Super Bowl LI postgame ceremony.
(Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)
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Patriots Coach Bill Belichick celebrates with running back James White, who scored three touchdowns, after defeating the Falcons in Super Bowl LI.
(Eric Gay / Associated Press)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Coach Bill Belichick celebrate after winning the Super Bowl LI.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is interviewed by broadcaster Terry Bradshaw during the award ceremony. Brady became the first four-time MVP of the Super Bowl.
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Patriots players celebrate after defeating the Falcons in overtime of Super Bowl LI.
(Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
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Patriots running back James White breaks a tackle attempt by Falcons defensive back Ricardo Allen to score the game-winning touchdown from two yards in overtime.
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Patriots running back James White fights Falcons defenders, including Jalen Collins, left, and Robert Alford, for the final inches as he scores the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
(Elise Amendola / Associated Press)
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Patriots receiver Danny Amendola scores a two-point conversion on a pass late in the fourth quarter to tie the score against the Falcons, 28-28.
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Patriots running back James White scores on a five-yard touchdown run against the Falcons late in the fourth quarter.
(Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
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Patriots running back James White evades Falcons defensive back Deion Jones on a big gain during the fourth quarter.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
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Falcons receiver Mohamed Sanu is brought down by Patriots defensive back Logan Ryan during the fourth quarter. There were no penalties for facemasking, and the play was nullified by a holding call.
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Falcons receiver Julio Jones makes a catch over Patriots defensive back Eric Rowe along the sideline during the fourth quarter. Atlanta’s drive, though, stalled and the Falcons had to punt.
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Patriots receiver Danny Amendola catches a six-yard touchdown pass against the Falcons defensive back Keanu Neal during the fourth quarter.
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Patriots running back James White reacts after scoring on a two-point conversion against the Falcons, cutting the Atlanta lead to 28-20 in the fourth quarter.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady reacts after a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LI. (Darron Cummings / Associated Press)
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Patriots receiver Julian Edelman (11) catches a tipped pass among three Falcons defenders during the fourth quarter.
(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower forces Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to fumble on a pass attempt during the fourth quarter.
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Patriots running back James White scores before Falcons defensive back Jalen Collins can bring him down during the third quarter, cutting New England’s deficit to 28-9.
(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady runs for a first down against the Falcons during a scoring drive in the third quarter.
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Patriots receiver Julian Edelman can’t catch a deep pass against the Falcons during the third quarter.
(Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
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Patriots running back James White is dragged out of bounds by Falcons defensive back Robert Alford during the third quarter.
(Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)
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Falcons running back Tevin Coleman scores on a six-yard reception against Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich during the third quarter, giving Atlanta a 28-3 lead.
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Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan reacts after throwing a touchdown pass to Tevin Coleman during the third quarter.
(Darron Cummings / Associated Press)
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Falcons receiver Taylor Gabriel celebrates after catching a pass against the Patriots during a scoring drive in the third quarter.
(Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)
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Lady Gaga performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LI.
(Darron Cummings / Associated Press)
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Lady Gaga made no political statement during her halftime show, instead concentrating on performing her hits after a patriotic opening.
(Darron Cummings / Associated Press)
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Lady Gaga leaps from the stage, tethered by wires, during the halftime performance of Super Bowl LI.
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Falcons defensive back Robert Alford (23) celebrates with teammate Courtney Upshaw after scoring a touchdown on a 82-yard interception return to give Atlanta a 21-3 lead in the second quarter.
(Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady watches Falcons defensive back Robert Alford (not pictured) return an interception 82 yards for a touchdown during the second quarter in Super Bowl LI. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady tries to tackle Falcons defensive back Robert Alford after he intercepted a pass during the second quarter. Alford ran it back 82 yards for a touchdown.
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Falcons defensive back C.J. Goodwin, right, breaks up a pass intended for Patriots receiver Malcolm Mitchell during the first half.
(Chuck Burton / Associated Press)
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Falcons tight end Austin Hooper catches a touchdown pass ahead of Patriots defensive back Patrick Chung during the second quarter, giving Atlanta a 14-0 lead.
(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan throws a touchdown pass to Austin Hooper during the second quarter.
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The Patriots never have an issue restocking their roster because veterans typically take less to play for a title contender. But don’t expect it to be easy – or cheap – for New England, which has $65 million in cap space, to retain defensive linemen Jabaal Sheard, Alan Branch and Chris Long, tight end Martellus Bennett (pictured), linebacker Dont’a Hightower, tailback LeGarrette Blount and cornerbacks Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan.
(Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)
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Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) is brought down by Falcons defensive back Keanu Neal (22) during the second quarter.
(Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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Falcons running back Devonta Freeman breaks into the clear against the Patriots for a five-yard scoring run during the second quarter.
(Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
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Falcons running back Devonta Freeman dives into the end zone after scoring the opening touchdown of Super Bowl LI.
(Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
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Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) is congratulated by teammates after scoring on a five-yard run against the Patriots during the second quarter.
(Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
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Falcons receiver Julio Jones (11) makes a catch in traffic as he’s brought down by Patriots defensive back Logan Ryan during the second quarter.
(Chuck Burton / Associated Press)
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Falcons running back Devonta Freeman is tracked down by Patriots defensive backs Malcolm Butler (21) and Devin McCourty (32) after a big gain in the first quarter of Super Bowl LI.
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Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is sacked by Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers during the first quarter.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes under pressure from Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett during the first quarter.
(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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Patriots receiver Malcolm Mitchell (19) catches a pass against Falcons defensive back Jalen Collins during the first quarter.
(Elise Amendola / Associated Press)
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Falcons defensive lineman Courtney Upshaw (91) sacks Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the first quarter.
(Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
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Falcons defensive lineman Courtney Upshaw reacts after sacking Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the first quarter.
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Atlanta Falcons players take the field before the start of Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston.
(Andrew Gombert / EPA)
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Quarterback Tom Brady (12) and the New England Patriots takes the field before the start of Super Bowl LI.
(Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
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Former President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush are introduced before the coin toss for Super Bowl LI.
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Luke Bryan sings the national anthem before the start of Super Bowl LI.
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Performers from the cast of “Hamilton” -- (from left) Jasmine Cephas Jones, Rene Elise Goldsberry and Phillipa Soo -- sing “God Bless America” before the start of Super Bowl LI.
(Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
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That opened up things for running back Devonta Freeman, who broke off runs of 15 and nine yards before scoring on a five-yard run.
Jones made his best catch with 4:40 left in the fourth quarter when he leaped high along the right sideline, extended his body and kept both feet in bounds for a 27-yard gain.
“I was staying aggressive, my mind-set aggressive,” Jones said. “Every play I step up, every play that’s called ... and whatever happens, happens.”
Political football
With politics serving as one of the subtexts to the run-up to Super Bowl LI, it was no surprise that the pregame festivities featured some political overtones.
As they sang “America the Beautiful,” the Schuyler Sisters from the original cast of the smash Broadway musical “Hamilton” sang, “And crown thy good with brotherhood — and sisterhood.”
Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, received a standing ovation before they tossed the coin.
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Super Bill
Bill Belichick is the first NFL coach with five Super Bowl victories, breaking his tie with the late Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This was Belichick’s record seventh Super Bowl as a head coach, one more than Miami’s Don Shula.
The Patriots coach is 26-10 in postseason games, one more victory than Shula and legendary Dallas coach Tom Landry.
Gary Klein covers the Los Angeles Rams for the Los Angeles Times. Before that, he covered USC’s football program and athletic department. He began working for The Times in the San Fernando Valley edition and has reported on high school, college and pro sports. He grew up in Southern California and graduated from Cal State Northridge.
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his “long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football,” Sam Farmer has covered the NFL for 25 seasons. A graduate of Occidental College, he’s a two-time winner of California Sportswriter of the Year and first place for beat writing by Associated Press Sports Editors.
