New England Patriots Fan Scores Touchdown on Final Play of Training Camp During Make-A-Wish Visit

It was the final play on the final day of New England Patriots training camp when Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez, 18, of Grand Rapids, Mich., took the field for his favorite team in a customized Patriots jersey and helmet as part of his Make-A-Wish visit to Gillette Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 15.

“It was super exciting,” Martinez, who was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Hypertension last year, said of his visit. “I got to meet every single Patriots player.”

He also got to run a play with the offense. After a quick chat with head coach Bill Belichick, the Michigan teen strapped on his helmet and joined the huddle, where quarterback Tom Brady called the final play of a joint practice with the Tamp a Bay Buccaneers - a run to Martinez.

“Tom [Brady] called the play and I was like, ‘What?’” Martinez recalled. “He told me to just follow my blocker and I did to the end zone.”

Martinez, who lined up behind running back James Develin, took the handoff and emerged through a hole between the right guard and tackle towards the sideline for a 20-yard touchdown run.

“That was awesome,” Martinez said. “I was kind of scared because I was surrounded by a whole bunch of big guys but scoring the touchdown was my favorite part about the day.”

The play drew a roaring cheer from the crowd and Martinez celebrated with a spike of the football as players from the Patriots and Buccaneers swarmed to congratulate the Make-A-Wish recipient.

“I wanted to spike the ball, but wasn’t sure if I had time to do it,” Martinez said. “The players told me I had to spike it, so I did. It was awesome!”

The play was the perfect end to a perfect day for Martinez, who along with his mother, Elia Ortiz, father, Jose and 15-year-old brother, Antonio, was invited to training camp on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.

Martinez’s day began hours earlier with a tour of Gillette Stadium and a run through the Patriots inflatable helmet onto the field like his favorite players do on game day.

“I didn’t think they were going to tell me to run through the helmet,” said Martinez. “I thought we were going to take a detour around it, but I followed Pat Patriot and then we went to the 50-yard line.”

From midfield, a personalized welcome video to Martinez from Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft played on the video boards followed by a surprise visit from Martinez’s favorite player.

“When the video was over I heard someone say, ‘Ain’t that great?’ I turned around and it was Tom Brady,” Martinez said. “It was awesome.”

Brady played catch with Martinez on the field and posed for photos before taking him into the locker room.

“I got to meet Vince Wilfork and Stevan Ridley,” said Martinez. “He took me to the equipment room and he gave me a pair of his shoes that he wore and he gave me a helmet and told me I looked like a running back.”

Martinez and his family were then treated to lunch at CBS Scene at Patriot Place before heading over to training camp to watch practice from the Patriots Charitable Foundation’s VIP tent before taking the field to run the team’s final play.

“This was more than I ever expected,” Martinez said. “I’m telling all my friends they have to go training camp. It’s awesome.”

Martinez’s memorable experience continued Friday, Aug. 16, as he and his family attended the Patriots' preseason home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Robert Kraft’s guests. Martinez was also on the field during pregame ceremonies as an honorary captain.