Mack Hollins’ NFL Odyssey Brings Him to Super Bowl Stage with Patriots
SANTA CLARA - Mack Hollins isn’t your typical journeyman wide receiver. He’s a 6-foot-4, 220-pound Swiss Army knife - a reliable target, one of the league’s best blocking wideouts, and a locker room leader who’s just as comfortable dishing out life advice as he is sealing the edge on a crack toss. Yet here he is, suiting up for his fifth team in as many seasons, now preparing for the biggest game of his career in Super Bowl LX with the New England Patriots.
That’s not a coincidence. It’s a choice.
“At the end of the day, because I chose that,” Hollins said this week, reflecting on his nomadic NFL path. “I wasn’t willing to sacrifice my value for what other people value me at.”
It’s a telling quote from a player who’s carved out a unique space in the league - not just with his play, but with his mindset. Hollins’ journey has taken him from Philadelphia to Miami, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Buffalo, and now New England.
And while the NFL is known for its roster churn, especially at wide receiver, Hollins’ moves haven’t been about chasing contracts or clout. It’s been about finding the right fit - a place where he feels valued.
“So I’m gonna go where I feel like I’m valued,” Hollins said. “And that’s not always at home. Sometimes you have to go out to go somewhere.”
That “somewhere” now is Foxborough, where Hollins signed a two-year deal this past offseason. And while his regular season was cut short by an abdominal injury, he returned in time to make a meaningful impact in the AFC Championship Game. In a gritty win over the Broncos, Hollins led the team with two catches for 51 yards - not flashy, but emblematic of the kind of contributions he’s made all year: timely, physical, and unselfish.
Before landing on injured reserve, Hollins posted 46 catches for 550 yards and two touchdowns over 15 games. Solid production, especially considering the Patriots’ offense leaned heavily on its run game and rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s development. Hollins became a security blanket for Maye early in the season and a tone-setter in the wide receiver room.
And it’s not just about what he’s done on the field. Hollins has played a big role in mentoring young receivers like Efton Chism, sharing the room with veteran Stefon Diggs and helping shape a group that’s still finding its identity. His leadership has been steady, his presence felt.
Now, with one game left in the 2025 season, Hollins has a chance to cement his value in the place where he says he feels most appreciated.
“Yeah. I mean, I’d love to stay in one place for my whole career.
That’s the ideal,” Hollins said. “And I think sometimes when I say, ‘oh, value yourself,’ you have to add value.
If I’m not adding value, then by no means should any team value me.”
That’s classic Hollins - reflective, grounded, and brutally honest about what it takes to stick in this league. He knows that being valued isn’t just about what you think you’re worth. It’s about what you bring every day - in the meeting room, on special teams, in crunch time.
And on Sunday, he’ll have one more chance to show it on the sport’s biggest stage.
For a player who’s been on what he calls a “world tour” of NFL cities, this moment with the Patriots feels like a destination. Whether it becomes a long-term home remains to be seen. But right now, Mack Hollins is exactly where he wants to be - valued, trusted, and ready to help chase a championship.