FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — As Deion Branch prepares to play in his third Super Bowl, he has a very specific to-do list that has nothing to do with the Giants.

Branch, a veteran wide receiver for the New England Patriots, makes sure he calls all of his coaches who helped him get to this point, from his Pop Warner coach in Georgia to his receivers coach when he was at Louisville, Jim McElwain, who was just named the coach at Colorado State after serving as Alabama’s offensive coordinator. Branch also checks in with his former Patriots teammates.

But there is one person he does not have to call, and that is the man he sees every day who is responsible for him being on the team — Patriots coach Bill Belichick. In this case, a call from Belichick turned Branch’s football life around and took him back to where it began.

“This is what it’s all about to cap this season off,” Branch said. “Now, it’s all about seizing the moment. Trust me, the day Coach called and told me they were thinking about bringing me back, that was the first thing that was on my mind — having an opportunity to get back and play with the organization where I started. I feel blessed.”

From 2002 to 2005, the Patriots and Branch spent four successful years together, winning two Super Bowls. But they separated after the 2005 season in a dispute over money, and Branch was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, who had been to the Super Bowl the year before. He spent four so-so seasons with the Seahawks, catching eight passes in two playoff games in 2006.

In October 2010, he returned to New England, less than a week after the Patriots traded Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings. Branch may not be the threat he was when he caught 21 passes in the two Super Bowl victories, but he is very much a part of the high-powered Patriots offense.

Branch started 15 games this season, missing only the Dec. 18 game at Denver. He managed two games of 100-plus yards, scored five touchdowns, and had a big 61-yard touchdown catch against Denver in the divisional playoff game. He caught two passes in the Patriots’ 23-20 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC title game.

Branch has his own piece of Patriots history, being the only one not named Tom Brady to win a Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award for them. In New England’s 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, Branch had 11 receptions for 133 yards, becoming the first wide receiver since Jerry Rice in 1989 to be chosen as the Super Bowl MVP. The 11 catches tied Rice and Dan Ross for the most receptions in a Super Bowl, a record that Wes Welker tied in Super Bowl XLII.

The year before, in Super Bowl XXXVIII, Branch had 10 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown, giving him two of the top seven receiving performances in Super Bowl history. Only Rice (33) and Andre Reed (27) have more Super Bowl receptions than Branch’s 21, and they each played in four Super Bowls.

This will be Branch’s third Super Bowl trip, seven years after his last one, and 16 months since he rejoined the team.

“It’s been a long time,” he said. “I’m very excited for the opportunity and very thankful, very thankful. It’s an honor to be a part of this team and have the opportunity to play in this game again. We’re all excited.”

Belichick said recently that Branch was among a special class of players who, as he put it, “just gets it.” He cited the veteran Patriots running back Kevin Faulk and the retired receiver Troy Brown as similar players. Branch, Belichick said, “almost always does what the quarterback would expect him to do.”

“He goes in there and has to make an adjustment,” Belichick said, “and you just are confident that he’ll make the right one.”

Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez have received the majority of attention among the Patriots’ receivers this season. They were ranked Nos. 1, 2, and 5 in receptions in the AFC. Branch was tied for 29th.

But come Sunday night, when Brady needs someone with sure hands who runs a reliable route, do not be surprised if he turns to the dependable Branch. The combination has worked well before.