Before Mack Hollins helped the New England Patriots win their eighth straight game with a 27-14 victory over the New York Jets on Thursday night, the receiver had an important message to convey.
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When Hollins arrived at Gillette Stadium, he entered the stadium wearing a white t-shirt with “988” written on the front and “You’re worth it!” on the back. Both sides also included words like “alone,” “scared,” “strong,” “seen,” “loved,” “happy,” healed,” and “vulnerable,” among others.
That phone number is for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Hollins wanted to make sure those who need to talk understand that it’s okay to not be okay.
“I think this topic, especially as a man, can often be pushed aside, can be swept under the rug like it’s not for men, not for tough guys, not for, I guess, our gender, sex, whatever you want to call it,” Hollins said after the game. “But it happens more than people want to admit, whether they’re older men, younger men, successful men, poor men, rich men… it happens to all men and it gets swept under the rug too much. And that doesn’t mean female suicide doesn’t exist too.
“But I think, especially this month of November, if I can draw attention to something that’s happening too often, because even one person committing suicide is one too many, then I’ll gladly support it and try to draw attention to it.
“And that’s not to take attention away from anyone else or any other cause that’s going on. It’s just in the hope that someone who had a rough night will say, ‘Damn, there’s some guy in the NFL who cares.’ Even if I don’t know you, I care about you. And hopefully that can change any decision you’ve ever thought about making.”
Hollins’ fashion choice comes a week after Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland reportedly died from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police chase.
Kneeland was the Cowboys’ second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and had so far totaled 26 tackles, five tackles for loss and one sack in 18 games (four starts). While police were searching for him, his girlfriend allegedly told them he had a history of mental health issues.
Hollins added that the football environment is not open to vulnerability, as it is known as a “tough guy” sport and what people see on the outside of players does not always match what happens on the inside.
“I think that ties into what I was saying. It doesn’t matter if you’re successful or if you’re making plays or if everyone thinks you’re in the best place in the world. You don’t know what someone is going through in their own ears,” Hollins said. “Sometimes it’s more than, ‘Well, I kept an eye on him.’
“It’s in a locker room in a very alpha sport, where saying, ‘Hey, I’m not doing well,’ can be seen as you’re weak. Or I need tough guys as teammates. And, unfortunately, that’s been the story for men in general.
“But I think anyone who’s listening, there are more men willing to listen to what you have to say than you think. That tough guy persona that we all assume, it’s not so real when it comes down to it. And it’s unfortunate to see someone lose their life. And you never know why. You never know what the trigger was or the final straw.”
Kneeland’s teammate Solomon Thomas spoke Thursday about the importance of mental health, saying, “Someone could be smiling, someone could be dancing, laughing, having a great time, expressing all this joy, but inside, they really could be fighting a battle that you never know.”
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When the Cowboys resume play in Week 11, they will do so with helmet decals remembering Kneeland and will also wear special jerseys honoring their teammate.
Along with a moment of silence, the Cowboys will air a video tribute to Kneeland before their next home game on Nov. 23 against the Philadelphia Eagles.