As a member of the Atlanta Falcons, defensive end Adrian Clayborn witnessed history.

He didn’t particularly enjoy the view.

“It was tough to watch, being hurt,” Clayborn said, reflecting on the New England Patriots’ historic comeback for a 34-28 overtime victory over the Falcons in the 2017 Super Bowl. “The Super Bowl was two weeks after I tore my bicep (in a 36-20 playoff win over Seattle), so it was hard to watch. It was a hard week.”

Might the 6-foot-3, 280-pounder, who registered 41/2 sacks during the regular season, made an impact, perhaps stemming the tide in a game that saw the Falcons blow a 25-point, second-half lead?

“I don’t know if I could have made an impact. I would hope so,” he said. “I mean, that’s my job to do every game. So I would hope I would have been able to make an impact in that game and possibly (cause) a different outcome.”

He’s on the other side now.

A first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20th overall) out of Iowa in the 2011 draft, Clayborn moved to Atlanta as an unrestricted free agent in 2015. He moved on as an unrestricted free agent for the second time in his career last Friday when he left the Falcons to sign a two-year, $12 million deal with the Patriots.

Clayborn, 29, is coming off a career season, one that saw him register 91/2 sacks, six of them (one shy of the league-record seven Derrick Thomas registered in a game against Seattle in 1990) coming at the expense of the Dallas Cowboys last Nov. 12 with Tyron Smith, their Pro Bowl left tackle, sidelined with a groin injury.

No question, in New England, Clayborn will be asked to get after the quarterback.

Asked to describe his play, Clayborn said “aggressive, hard-nosed.

“I like to play every play like it’s my last,” he said.

Clayborn’s football career is a testament to perseverance.

Although born with Erb’s palsy, the result being that he has some strength and mobility limitations in his right arm, Clayborn said he’s been able to compensate to the point where it hasn’t impacted his performance on the field.

“It doesn’t really affect me besides in the weight room with doing some stuff,” he said. “On the field it doesn’t really affect me. I’ve learned to compensate, and I do what I’ve got to do to make the plays.”

Clayborn has appeared in 81 regular-season games, starting 49, registering 167 tackles, 30 sacks, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. He’s also appeared in three playoff games, starting two, making two tackles.