Mack Hollins’ Unique Game Day Ritual

Mack Hollins, the wide receiver for the New England Patriots, has developed quite a reputation for entering NFL stadiums without shoes. But ahead of the game against the Buffalo Bills, he really took it up a notch.

A major winter storm swept through the northeastern U.S. over the weekend, dumping snow in various states, including Foxborough, Massachusetts. Temperatures at Gillette Stadium hovered around 32 degrees, dropping below 30 as the game progressed.

True to form, Hollins strolled into the stadium barefoot and even shirtless.

In past interviews, he’s shared the backstory behind his barefoot approach. “It began about six or seven years ago,” he noted, reflecting that perhaps it was something that started in childhood. “I met these trainers from Australia called Melbourne Macular Therapy. I actually flew them all the way from Australia to Philadelphia, and when they showed up, I couldn’t quite believe my eyes—they were walking around without shoes. I thought, maybe they got the wrong place.”

He went on to explain the philosophy that inspired him: going barefoot could reconnect him to a more natural way of moving. “That led me to train barefoot consistently for a few years. It sparked the question…what’s the big deal? It certainly simplifies things—no shoes to pack when heading out.”

This is Hollins’ first season with the Patriots; before this, he played for several teams including the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was part of the Super Bowl-winning squad in his rookie season. His stats this season stand at 35 receptions for 440 yards and two touchdowns.