Mack Hollins stepped onto the snowy grounds of Gillette Stadium, shirtless and barefoot, just hours before the Patriots faced off against the Buffalo Bills on December 14.
In a striking pregame appearance, the New England wide receiver donned only his pants, prompting the team to share a photo on social media while the NFL released a brief video on X.
With snow blanketing Foxboro and temperatures hovering in the low 30s, Hollins’ choice of attire raised eyebrows. The weather forecast predicted flurries throughout the game, with temperatures expected to drop into the 20s.
At 32 years old, Hollins is navigating his first season with the Patriots after a stint with the Bills last year. His unconventional outfit may reflect his experiences in Buffalo's harsh winters.
During warmups, he maintained his shirtless look but opted for shoes, a departure from his usual barefoot routine. Known for his pregame barefoot entrances, this frigid day marked a new chapter in his fashion choices.
On an episode of “Bussin’ With The Boys” in August, Hollins stated, “No matter what the temperature is, I’m going barefoot for my gameday entrances,” except when it dips below 35 degrees. It seems he may have overlooked the weather report for this particular Sunday.
“It’s not even hard to wear no shoes,” he explained. “If it gets below 35 — I’m not an idiot, I’ll put shoes on — but walking in, no matter what, I have to go barefoot.”
His barefoot journey began during recovery from an injury when he encountered Australian trainers who advocated for barefoot training as a return to natural movement. “That grew into me training barefoot all the time,” he noted.
“Three or four years ago, I was like, ‘What’s the point of the shoes?’ Now I don’t even pack them,” he admitted, although he does wear footwear in bathrooms and airports.
This matchup against the Bills is significant for both teams; a win for New England could end Buffalo’s five-year reign as division champions. The Patriots aim to reclaim the AFC East title for the first time since 2019, a year that marked their last of 11 consecutive division titles during the Tom Brady era.
At 11-2, the Patriots are experiencing a resurgence not seen since Brady’s departure in 2020. A victory on Sunday could bolster their Super Bowl ambitions.
Hollins is enjoying one of his best seasons yet, accumulating 440 yards and two touchdowns on 35 receptions over 13 games. This isn’t the first time he has made headlines with his pregame attire; after Halloween, he donned Revolutionary War soldier garb as a tribute to the “Patriots Militia” fans who sport similar outfits at games.
