According to a release from the Massachusetts State Police, troopers from the barracks in Foxborough responded to a rollover on Route 1.

Vince Wilfork was reminded of that firsthand when he rushed to help a woman out of an overturned Jeep Wrangler early Monday morning as he was driving home from Gillette Stadium.

FOXBOROUGH — The game of football is not bigger than life itself, not even after winning an AFC Championship game that had the Patriots headed to their eighth Super Bowl.

When they arrived at the scene, they were stunned to see the Patriots’ 6-foot-2-inch, 325-pound defensive tackle helping 38-year-old Mary Ellen Brooks of Hanson out of her car.


Wilfork said he talked to her through the window of her Jeep and then opened the door and pulled her out.

“I just wanted to help,” Wilfork said Monday at Gillette Stadium. “I think anybody would’ve done the same.

“Through football and the course of life, I’ve learned to stay poised in certain situations. I’m pretty sure she was scared so the last thing I wanted to do was have her panic. The first thing I told her is don’t panic, I’ll get you out of here, and I got her out.”

Once the police arrived, Wilfork said he left after they had the situation under control.

As he continued his ride home with his wife, Bianca, Wilfork said they reflected on the situation.

“I don’t want anything from it,” he said. “If I saw it a million times, I’d do it a million times. Luckily my wife and I were able to help and be there when it happened and get her to safety.

“You reflect on life. Here I am, won the most important game of our season and flash right in front of your eyes, your life, somebody that’s in danger. I didn’t think about anything that was going on in my life at the time. The only thing I thought of was somebody is in there and getting them to safety. When I drove off, my wife and I talked in the car and said things are a lot more precious in life than games and anything you accomplish. It showed last night. We won the AFC Championship and there was a life in danger.”


Brooks was arrested and charged with operating under the influence and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, according to police.

Wilfork reiterated that he did what anybody would do in that same situation, and deflected any credit or praise.

When receiver Julian Edelman was informed of what happened, he seemed taken aback and it appeared to be the first he heard of what his teammate did. But Edelman was not surprised, saying it’s just the type of guy Wilfork is.

“He’s an unbelievable guy, an unbelievable teammate and captain,” Edelman said. “You hear that, and you’re like that sounds like something he would do. That’s awesome to hear.”

Coach Bill Belichick echoed Edelman’s sentiment on a conference call with the media.

“He’s accomplished a lot in his professional life, on the personal side he has a lot of character and integrity,” Belichick said. “The compassion he has for other human beings. It doesn’t surprise me. That’s the person he is. He does it for the right reasons. Not for personal gain.”


Follow Anthony Gulizia on Twitter @AnthonyGulizia.