Flight LH2573 Lands in Munich
Carrying six Vince Lombardi trophies and more than seven tons of cargo, a Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 landed at Munich Airport at 09:38 on Thursday, November 12, FootballR reported.
The aircraft touched down for the upcoming NFL Munich Game, bringing players, staff, and head coach Mike Vrabel to Bavaria. Several German fan club members greeted the New England Patriots upon their arrival.
Quarterback Drake Maye also made the trans-Atlantic trip. This marks the second time the franchise has traveled to Germany, following a 2023 appearance in Frankfurt where a downtown parade drew over 1,500 supporters.
Homecoming for Lorenz Metz
Offensive tackle Lorenz Metz made a homecoming trip to Upper Bavaria. The 29-year-old grew up in Neuötting, roughly 90 kilometers from Munich.
“I am incredibly excited,” Metz said after the flight, highlighting the unique experience of returning to his home region with an NFL team.
Metz joined the Patriots’ practice squad at the start of 2026. His status for the active game-day roster remained undecided upon arrival.
Trophies and Equipment on Board
The charter flight transported the franchise’s six championship trophies from the Tom Brady era, spanning titles won between 2002 and 2019. Lufthansa said that the cargo hold contained more than seven tons of equipment, including 80 football helmets.
As part of a partnership between the airline and the team, the journey also supported the use of more than 20 tons of sustainable aviation fuel. The franchise scheduled its local practices at FC Bayern Munich’s training facility on Säbener Straße.
Fans gathered at the Patriots House to view all six Super Bowl rings and historical memorabilia. An official fan event titled “Boston in Bavaria” took place on Saturday at the Augustiner-Bräustuben main restaurant.
Injuries and Standings Before Kickoff
The Patriots entered the matchup with a 5-4 record following a 45-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Head coach Vrabel ruled out three players for the contest: offensive lineman Ben Brown, cornerback Carlton Davis III, and running back TreVeyon Henderson.
The Detroit Lions arrived with a 6-2 record and a four-game winning streak. The NFL Munich Game between the New England Patriots and the Detroit Lions kicks off at 15:30 local time (CET) on Sunday, November 15, at the Allianz Arena.
RTL provided free-to-air television coverage in Germany with a pre-game show starting at 14:30. Sky Sport and NFL Game Pass also broadcast the fixture live.
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