Dan Connolly was an undrafted free agent out of Southeast Missouri State who signed with the Jaguars in 2005, but wound up on the Patriots’ roster in 2006. He stayed with New England through the 2014 season, playing in 85 games and starting 71 games for some of the better offensive lines in recent NFL history. But what Connolly is perhaps best known for is a secret ability, at least in the mind of Bill Belichick — the ability to return kickoffs at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds. Connolly had four kick returns in his career for 106 yards, and the most notable came against the Packers in a 31-27 win in Week 15 of the 2010 season, on December 19, 2010.
Distant Replay: 10 years ago, Patriots OL Dan Connolly returned a kickoff 71 yards
