New England Patriots rookie tight end Eli Raridon had the support of his wife, Anna, just weeks after the couple announced the loss of their baby son, Peter.
Eli, 22, and Anna posed together on the sidelines at Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 11, before the Patriots’ 45-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Anna shared the photo to her Instagram Story on Sunday, adding three white heat emojis.
The couple revealed the loss of their son in an emotional social media post on September 29.
“Our angel, Peter James Raridon, was born on September 11th🪽,” Anna shared via Instagram. “When Eli and I went in for our 20-week anatomy scan, excited to see our sweet baby boy, our hearts were forever changed. Our little one was diagnosed with anencephaly, a fatal condition in which he would not survive outside the womb.”
Anencephaly is a severe and fatal fetal defect in which a baby is born without major parts of their brain, skull or scalp, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Anna continued, “While we are absolutely devastated that we were unable to bring our baby boy home, I am grateful to have loved him deeply, kept him safe, and had been his home for the past 9 months before he was called back to Heaven.”
Eli caught five passes for 57 yards on Sunday, making his return to the field after leaving the Patriots’ October 5 game against the Buffalo Bills with an ankle injury.
The Patriots selected the Notre Dame standout in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He wasted no time in making an impact, scoring the first touchdown of his career in the team’s season-opening game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 9.
Eli and Anna got married in May 2025 and announced their pregnancy less than a year later.
“ND->NE!!!!! TYJ for this life we get to live ❤️ forever your biggest fan @eliraridon,” Anna shared via Instagram in April.
The couple has been dating since 2020, which Anna commemorated with an anniversary post in January 2024.
“Together (four)ever! i love you x infinity @eliraridon,” she shared via Instagram.
Anna shared multiple social media posts about the couple’s wedding last year, which came just days after she graduated from the University of Iowa.
“Married to you has been the biggest blessing from above🤍,” Anna posted via Instagram in July 2025. “You have my heart forever, my love.”
Eli and the Patriots return to action when they host the New York Jets on Sunday, October 18.
