More turmoil for the Patriots as Eli Raridon and his wife Anna reveal devastating personal news
Patriots rookie Eli Raridon and his wife, Anna, are grieving the death of their newborn son after doctors diagnosed him with anencephaly during pregnancy
The New England Patriots are dealing with heartbreaking news away from the football field after rookie tight end Eli Raridon and his wife, Anna, announced the death of their newborn son, Peter James .
The couple revealed that Peter was born on September 11 after doctors discovered during Anna's 20-week anatomy scan that their baby had anencephaly, a serious and fatal birth defect affecting the development of the brain and skull.
The diagnosis meant the couple knew before his birth that their son would not survive outside the womb.
Peter was the first child for Eli and Anna , who married in 2025. They announced their pregnancy in March, sharing their excitement about welcoming their baby in the fall. Instead, the family has been left mourning a loss they had been preparing for throughout the pregnancy.
“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.
“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,” Anna wrote on Instagram.
Anna's message also centered on the couple's Christian faith and the way they have tried to make sense of an extraordinarily painful experience.
“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.”
She later 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.”
What is anencephaly and what did the Raridons face?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anencephaly is a neural tube defect in which parts of the brain and skull are absent at birth. The CDC says there is no cure or treatment for the condition, and almost all babies born with anencephaly die shortly after birth.
The condition develops very early in pregnancy, when the neural tube does not close properly. It can be identified during pregnancy through screening and ultrasound examinations. The CDC estimates that about one in every 4,762 babies in the United States is born with anencephaly.
For Eli Raridon , the devastating family news has arrived during the beginning of his first NFL season.
The Patriots selected the former Notre Dame tight end in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 95th overall pick. At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, Raridon entered New England with considerable expectations as part of a young Patriots offense.
He made an immediate impression in the season opener against Seattle, catching a touchdown before producing another memorable play with a 30-yard reception during New England 's victory over Pittsburgh.
His early contributions suggested that he could become a useful part of Mike Vrabel' s offense during his rookie campaign.
Raridon was inactive for New England's most recent game against the Jacksonville Jaguars because of a thigh injury. The Patriots entered that matchup already dealing with several injuries, leaving the rookie unavailable while the team managed its roster.
But the football situation is secondary to what Raridon and his wife are now experiencing.
The couple chose to share Peter's story publicly while remembering the son they had anticipated welcoming home. Their message emphasized that although Peter's life was brief, his presence had a lasting impact on their family.
As the Patriots continue their NFL season under Vrabel , attention will inevitably remain on the team's performance and the challenges facing its roster.
For Raridon and Anna, however, the immediate priority is mourning Peter James and honoring his memory.
The Patriots rookie's first NFL season has therefore unfolded alongside a deeply personal tragedy, making the family's announcement a reminder that the lives of players extend far beyond the football field.
