‘We all we got, we all we need’: How Stefon Diggs’s voice sparked a New England rallying cry

New England Patriots

“He knows exactly how to touch the right buttons and he does it with a passion that’s hard to simulate,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said.

SAN FRANCISCO – By now, this eight-word phrase has taken New England by storm. Name a famous Boston athlete, and you’ve probably seen them yelling “we all we got, we all we need” in Patriots hype videos over the past few weeks.

David Ortiz, Jayson Tatum, Randy Moss, Jaylen Brown, and Ty Law are saying it. Mark Wahlberg is saying it. The videos show firefighters in uniform saying it. There are signs on the highway beaming the phrase in orange letters as local drivers are reminded to drive safely.

From barbershops to orange line trains, these videos have depicted Bostonians rallying together behind a simple, yet powerful sentiment: All we have is each other, and we don’t need anyone or anything else as long as we stick together.

“I think [Stefon] Diggs just kind of said that and we just kind of went with it to be honest,” defensive lineman Milton Williams said. “But, I mean, that’s what it is. Nobody was expecting us to make it this far. Wasn’t nobody really watching the Patriots. But, we knew the guys we had in the locker room and we knew the work that we put in all year.”

Diggs credits his teammates with inspiring him to spread the message. They were underdogs on the road against the Buffalo Bills during Week 5. It was their first prime-time game of the season, and with a 2-2 record, the Patriots were in need of a jumpstart. Diggs delivered the words during a passionate pregame speech.

“Being here gave me the motivation, being here gave me that saying,” Diggs said. “I feel like I owed it to my team and I feel like in that very moment that nobody believed in us. We went into Buffalo, a very hostile environment with a great team and I felt like my teammates needed to hear that.”

The Patriots beat Buffalo and won 15 of their last 16 games. The phrase stuck, although it’s not anything new. The Seahawks, of all teams, were chanting it in their locker room more than a decade ago. The Rams have also claimed it in the past. Those words have been floating around NFL locker rooms for a long time.

But, Diggs and the Patriots have spun a catchy remix by adopting the saying during one of the most dramatic turnarounds in NFL history. New England won four games last year and finished last in their division. They have returned to the Super Bowl against all odds, and the phrase stuck with this team not just because of what was said, but because of who said it.

Diggs is the most accomplished of the Patriots’ wide receivers. He has seven 1,000-yard seasons and four Pro Bowl appearances. Now in his 11th NFL season, Diggs has been in the league since some of his younger teammates were in middle school. He’s dating Grammy-winning artist Cardi B. His teammates and coaches describe him as a born leader and a mentor to young players.

“I’ve know Stef for a long time, going back to when he was probably in ninth or tenth grade, just being in the same area,” offensive lineman Morgan Moses said. “Who he is as a person has always been the same. He’s always been this caring guy in the locker room, always treated guys like family. That’s what you get from him. He’s been nothing but a prime example of what a professional needs to be, especially with these young guys.”

He also has an arraignment scheduled for next Friday, Feb. 13. He is facing assault and strangulation charges over an alleged incident with a personal chef. It was initially scheduled for Jan. 23, but it was postponed. Diggs has denied the allegations, and the Patriots said in a statement that they support Diggs.

He has remained one of the team’s vocal leaders through it all, and now he has a chance to take his fame to another level with his first-career Super Bowl appearance at age 32.

His relentlessness and competitive spirit help set the tone on a daily basis, receivers coach Todd Downing said. He’s bold and direct with his words, but he also wears his heart on his sleeve and shows up to work with joy and enthusiasm.

“His voice means a lot. I think that the team knows he’s been through a lot and he’s had success at a very high level on big stages.” Downing said. “I think when you look to a guy like that to set the pace for your team from an energy standpoint and a competitiveness standpoint, it pays off.”

He is, as receiver DeMario Douglas puts it, a very driven person who is determined to feed his family. He’s not afraid to hold his teammates accountable.

“He’s the guy who is going to make sure everything is running right,” Douglas said. “He’s going to hold you to that high level that he knows that you’re capable.”

Diggs has a way with words, and an uncanny sense of what moves the needle for this team. Those skills, along with his accomplishments and work ethic, make his voice hold weight in the locker room.

“He knows exactly how to touch the right buttons and he does it with a passion that’s hard to simulate,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. “It’s authentic and everybody knows he wants to win. As long as you have that trust that the guy that’s speaking to you is coming from the right place, then usually the guys are willing to follow.”

Diggs said he’s not trying to be a motivational speaker. He said how he felt, and the phrase took off.

They delight in proving their doubters wrong, and their belief in themselves has carried them all the way to the Super Bowl. It’s the Patriots and the Seahawks with a championship on the line once again. One man’s words have galvanized a team and captivated a region.

“I just say what’s on my mind and I felt like in that moment nobody believed,” Diggs said. “When you band together and nobody believes in you and your back is against the wall, you got to see who you really are.”

Khari A. Thompson

Sports Reporter

Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.