Patriots Rookie Tight End Eli Raridon Mourns Loss of Newborn Son

New England Patriots rookie tight end Eli Raridon and his wife, Anna, are mourning the loss of their newborn son, Peter James. The infant was diagnosed during pregnancy with anencephaly, a severe birth defect.

Peter was born on September 11, less than a month before the couple announced the news on Instagram. Doctors identified the condition during Anna Raridon's 20-week anatomy scan. Anencephaly is characterized by the improper development of major portions of the brain and skull, and it typically results in the infant dying shortly after birth, as there is no known cure or standard treatment.

Peter was the couple's first child. Eli and Anna married in the spring of 2025 and announced Anna's pregnancy in March of the following year, expecting their child in the fall.

"When Eli and I went in for our 20-week anatomy scan, excited to see our sweet baby boy, our hearts were forever changed," Anna wrote on Instagram. "Our little one was diagnosed with anencephaly, a fatal condition in which he would not survive outside the womb."

She 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. I have often found it easy to glorify the Lord when life is going well, but it is in our deepest trials that we are drawn closest to Him. We may never understand the why behind this journey, but one thing we know with certainty is that God promises to care for His children."

Anna added, "Though his time with us was brief, his life still precious, his purpose still meaningful, and he will forever be a part of our story. I have loved you every second of your life & will miss you every second of mine. What a sweet sweet reunion ours will be."

The Patriots selected Raridon, a former Notre Dame tight end, in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 95th overall pick. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound player made an immediate impact for the team, catching a touchdown in New England’s season opener against Seattle and later recording a 30-yard reception in a victory over Pittsburgh. Raridon was inactive for the Patriots' most recent game against Jacksonville due to a thigh injury.