When Mack Hollins walked into New England Patriots’ pre-game tunnel for Thursday Night Football, he wasn’t just dressed for hype. He was dressed with purpose. On the front of his shirt glowed the number “988”, the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Across the back were words like Happy. Valued. Brave. Hopeful. surrounding one bold message: “YOU ARE WORTH IT.” He sent a signal—quiet but unmissable—that if you’re battling what you don’t talk about, you still matter.
The moment didn’t arise in isolation. The league is reeling from the tragic death by suicide of Marshawn Kneeland, a young man with promise whose life cut painfully short on November 6. Hollins’ shirt arrived amid a wave of grief sweeping through the sport—and became a small but powerful act of solidarity.
It’s rare to see such a direct message worn into the spotlight. The shirt’s front, 988, is simple but critical: a lifeline, a number to call when the weight of silent struggle grows too heavy. The back? A mirror for anyone who ever felt lost in plain sight: “Alone”, “Empty”, “Scared”, “Forgotten” printed upfront—and then flipped into light: Brave, Valued, Hopeful. Hollins walked toward cameras and fans with that transformation visible.
He isn’t new to bold statements. Hollins signed with the Patriots in March and has been part of their resurgence under coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye this season. But this message went far beyond touchdowns or scheme calls. It was about being human—open about what happens off the field.
Consider the timing: sportsrooms bursting with adrenaline, stadium lights flooding the stands, and yet here was a player reminding everyone—even opponents, spectators, staff—that human vulnerability doesn’t pause for a game. Hollins came into that tunnel not in silence but with purpose. He didn’t wait for the flashes to fade. He pressed his message into the spotlight.
For someone quietly battling, the shirt may not fix everything. But it lets them know they’re seen. It says the game matters—yes—but you matter more. There’s no shame in the number, no stigma in the words. Just a reminder: you matter enough that a professional athlete walked into a stadium under bright lights wearing your lifeline.
If you or someone you know ever needs it, call 988. It doesn’t make the hard days vanish—but sometimes, it opens the door. And the question that matters now can be as simple: “Are you worth it?” Because you absolutely are.
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