New England Patriots
“Patriots Nation, thank you for embracing me from day one.”
Kayshon Boutte was traded to the Texans on Monday. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)
August 27, 2026 | 7:40 AM
2 minutes to read
Kayshon Boutte was granted the fresh start he was seeking when the Patriots traded him to the Texans earlier this week.
But before the 24-year-old wideout joins one of the top challengers to the Patriots’ AFC crown in Houston, Boutte took to social media to pen a heartfelt farewell to both the Patriots and their fans.
Here is Boutte’s full message:
“New England, it’s hard to put into words what these last few years have meant to me. Being selected with the 187th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots was a dream come true. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed into an organization built on hard work, accountability, and a standard of excellence.
“I want to thank Mr. Kraft, Coach Belichick, and everyone behind the scenes who poured into me. I also want to give a special thank you to Coach Vrabel, Todd Downing, and Josh McDaniels. Thank you for believing in me, trusting in my abilities, and helping me grow, not just as a football player, but as a man. Your guidance, your honesty, and your confidence in me played a huge role in my development, on and off the field. I’ll always have the utmost respect for each of you and will forever be grateful for the time, effort, and belief you invested in me. Thank you for helping shape the player and person I am today. I’ll carry those lessons with me for the rest of my career.
“Patriots Nation, thank you for embracing me from day one. Your support through every high and low never went unnoticed, and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to wear the Flying Elvis on my helmet. I’ll always look back on my time in New England with nothing but gratitude and respect. Once a Patriot, always grateful.
“From requesting a trade in March 2026, not knowing what the future holds. I thank the Patriots for doing right by me and sending me to an organization I truly wanted to be a part of.”
Boutte confirmed in his post that he made a trade request in March as the Patriots moved forward with a revamped wideout corps led by A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.
But even with that longstanding trade request, Boutte was applauded by his former Patriots coaches for how he approached this training camp in Foxborough.
“It’s an example I will use for the rest of my coaching career,” Patriots wide receivers coach Todd Downing said earlier this month when asked how Boutte has conducted himself this preseason. “The way that he has just been a pro and shown up every day, I have a great relationship with Kayshon, and I value that a lot.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
