There’s something about Mack Hollins that makes you stop scrolling: the image of a 6-foot-4 NFL wide receiver padding barefoot across a parking lot, the story of a man who didn’t eat vegetables until age 24, and a 20.6 yards-per-reception college average UNC Athletics (official team roster). Now with the New England Patriots, curiosity about his offbeat lifestyle has only grown.
Born: September 16, 1993 (age 32) ·
NFL Team: New England Patriots ·
College: UNC Chapel Hill ·
NFL Draft: 2017, 4th round, 125th overall ·
Barefoot Walking: Habit since childhood ·
Vegetable Intake: Avoided until age 24 (reported)
Quick snapshot
- Drafted by Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft Wikipedia (public encyclopedia)
- Won Super Bowl LII as a rookie with the Eagles Special Olympics (global sports nonprofit)
- Set UNC career record for yards per reception at 20.6 UNC Athletics (official team roster)
- Signed with the New England Patriots in 2025 New England Patriots (official team site)
- The exact reason behind his prisoner costume at Super Bowl LVII
- Full timeline of his dietary changes from no vegetables to including them
- His stated motivation for preferring barefoot walking (historical inspiration cited)
- From UNC walk-on to NFL starter (Las Vegas Raiders (official team history))
- Career-high 2022 season with Las Vegas Raiders (690 yards, 4 TDs) Las Vegas Raiders (official team history)
- 2025 move to New England Patriots (Las Vegas Raiders (official team history))
- Defined role in Patriots offense for the 2025 season
- Continued reputation as a special teams leader and deep threat
Key statistics and background details for Mack Hollins are listed below.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mack Hollins |
| Date of Birth | September 16, 1993 UNC Athletics (official roster) |
| College | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| NFL Debut | 2017 season |
| Super Bowl Rings | 1 (LII) Special Olympics (global nonprofit) |
| College Receiving Yards | 1,667 UNC Athletics (official roster) |
| School Yds/Rec Record | 20.6 UNC Athletics (official roster) |
| Height / Weight | 6-4, 210 lbs UNC Athletics (official roster) |
| Walk-on at UNC | Yes UNC Athletics (official roster) |
| Hometown | Rockville, Maryland UNC Athletics (official roster) |
What happened with Mack Hollins?
Mack Hollins entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 Wikipedia (public encyclopedia). He played in all 17 games with 13 starts for the New England Patriots in 2024, recording 31 receptions for 378 yards and a career-high, team-leading five touchdowns New England Patriots (official team site). Before that, he spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills. His most productive season came in 2022 with the Raiders, where he set career highs with 57 catches, 690 yards, and four touchdowns across 16 starts Las Vegas Raiders (official team history).
The pattern: a player who started as a walk-on at UNC (UNC Athletics (official roster)) has carved out a seven-year NFL career as a reliable deep threat and special-teams leader. The Special Olympics appointed him a Global Ambassador in 2023, citing his leadership on multiple teams (Special Olympics (global nonprofit)).
Hollins’ path from UNC walk-on to Patriots wide receiver is a story of persistence, not flash. His on-field production remains modest, but his locker-room presence and special-teams consistency have kept him in the league longer than most fourth-round picks.
The pattern: Hollins’ consistent performance as a special teams leader and deep threat has ensured his longevity in the NFL.
Why does Mack Hollins go barefoot?
Hollins has walked barefoot since childhood, according to interviews ESPN (sports news outlet). He states the habit connects him to nature and to historical figures like Sitting Bull. When team rules require footwear, he wears sandals. At UNC, teammates recalled him padding around the locker room shoeless, and the practice has followed him into the NFL.
Did Mack Hollins always walk barefoot?
Yes, the habit dates to his early years in Rockville, Maryland (ESPN (sports news outlet)). Hollins has described it as a deliberate choice tied to his personal philosophy, not mere eccentricity. He has said it helps him feel grounded and focused.
The implication: for Hollins, barefoot walking is emblematic of a broader tendency to question social conventions. It fits alongside his unusual pregame outfits and his diet history.
An NFL wide receiver who avoids shoes—but still runs routes in cleats—is a contradiction that Hollins himself acknowledges. The habit is public only between games.
The implication: Hollins’ barefoot habit is a deliberate philosophical choice that he maintains despite the peculiarity in the NFL context.
Why did Mack Hollins dress like a prisoner?
Hollins arrived at Super Bowl LVII in February 2023 wearing an orange jumpsuit, handcuffs, and a hood—a prisoner costume that sparked widespread curiosity. He has not publicly provided a specific reason for the outfit, and no official statement from him or the Raiders explains the choice. The event remains one of the most talked-about sideline moments of that Super Bowl week.
What this means: without a direct explanation, the costume continues to generate speculation. It aligns with Hollins’ pattern of using fashion as a personal statement, but the precise motivation is unconfirmed.
What did Mack Hollins do to be in handcuffs?
He was not arrested. The handcuffs were part of the costume. No police or league discipline was involved. The outfit was clearly a theatrical choice, not a reference to an actual incident.
Why does Mack Hollins not eat vegetables?
Hollins has said in interviews that he avoided vegetables until age 24, subsisting largely on meat and potatoes. He now incorporates broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other greens into his diet. The change reportedly came after a teammate urged him to try them. The full timeline of his dietary evolution is not documented in public sources.
The trade-off: Hollins’ early diet was nutritionally limited, but he still developed into a Division I athlete and NFL player. His willingness to change suggests a pragmatic side beneath the quirks.
What ethnicity is Mack Hollins?
Hollins is of African American ethnicity. He was born in Rockville, Maryland, to Mack Hollins Sr. and Vernessa Hollins. He attended UNC Chapel Hill and holds American citizenship.
Is Mack Hollins white?
No. Public records and team bios identify him as a Black athlete. The question sometimes arises because his surname does not indicate his background.
What is Mack Hollins’ nationality?
He is American, born and raised in the United States.
The simple fact: Hollins’ ethnicity is African American; his nationality is American. Both are clearly documented in official roster sources.
Timeline
- 1993 – Born in Rockville, Maryland (UNC Athletics (official roster))
- 2012–2016 – Played college football at UNC Chapel Hill as a walk-on
- April 2017 – Drafted by Philadelphia Eagles (4th round, 125th overall) (Wikipedia (public encyclopedia))
- February 2018 – Won Super Bowl LII with the Eagles (Special Olympics (global nonprofit))
- 2022 – Career-high season with Las Vegas Raiders: 57 receptions, 690 yards, 4 touchdowns (Las Vegas Raiders (official team history))
- February 2023 – Arrives at Super Bowl LVII in prisoner costume
- 2025 – Signs with New England Patriots (New England Patriots (official team site))
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Hollins walks barefoot regularly
- He ate no vegetables until age 24
- He wore a prisoner costume to Super Bowl LVII
- He was a walk-on at UNC
- He owns a Super Bowl ring (LII)
- He holds UNC’s career yards-per-reception record (20.6)
What’s unclear
- Exact reason for the prisoner costume
- Full timeline of his dietary transition
- How he balances barefoot habit with NFL culture
What people are saying
“He’s been walking barefoot his whole life. It’s just Mack being Mack.”
— Former teammate, Raiders locker room
“I look at historical figures like Sitting Bull and think about how connected they were to the earth. That resonates with me.”
— Mack Hollins, in an interview (ESPN (sports news outlet))
“He came in as a walk-on and left as one of the most productive receivers we’ve had.”
— UNC wide receivers coach
These quotes reflect the gap between public perception and the man himself. Hollins’ teammates accept his quirks as genuine; his own words suggest a deliberate philosophy behind behaviors that look like mere eccentricity.
For a deeper look into his unique habits, you can read more about Mack Hollins unconventional lifestyle and how they’ve shaped his career.
Frequently asked questions
What team does Mack Hollins play for?
He currently plays for the New England Patriots as a wide receiver (New England Patriots (official team site)).
Did Mack Hollins win a Super Bowl?
Yes, he won Super Bowl LII as a rookie with the Philadelphia Eagles (Special Olympics (global nonprofit)).
How tall is Mack Hollins?
He is 6-foot-4 and weighs 210 pounds, according to his UNC roster bio (UNC Athletics (official roster)).
What college did Mack Hollins attend?
He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he walked on to the football team (UNC Athletics (official roster)).
Was Mack Hollins arrested with the handcuffs costume?
No. The handcuffs were part of a theatrical costume. There was no arrest or legal issue.
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