New England Patriots
“I think we’ve counted a single jersey from every team around here.”
Fireworks explode over the stage before the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
PITTSBURGH — There weren’t too many red, white, and blue Patriots jerseys in this Steel City sea of black and gold. After an unexpected Super Bowl run, New England found itself at the back of each round in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Plus with head coach Mike Vrabel stepping away from the team for the final day, there were plenty of non-football related storylines to talk about back in Massachusetts.
But the passion of Patriots Nation knows no bounds. New England fans from near and far gathered to cheer on the team and soak in the sun-drenched scene outside of Acrisure Stadium.
There were groups of buddies looking to eat, drink, and nerd-out over which selections the team might make. There was a mother and son (big Drake Maye fans) who flew in from North Carolina after winning a competition.
From throwback Ty Law jerseys to the new gray Nor’easter editions featuring Christian Gonzalez’s name on the back, there were Patriots fans mingling with their counterparts from around the country.
Boston.com caught up with a few of them at the draft and asked for stories of why they came, and what the vibe was like in Pittsburgh.
A dream come true for mom and son
Nick Denison was in awe as he stood on a street corner not too far from Gate C of the stadium.
“It’s awesome, the environment, the places, the buildings,” he said. “It just rocks. A little intimidating, but walking around town is awesome. Just walking around, the hype, the vibe is amazing.”
There were rows of giant helmets representing every team and concessions stands selling everything from walking tacos to Kielbasa sandwiches. Fans could glance out and take in river views as they waited in line for attractions.
This was a trip that Denison, a North Carolina high schooler, had earned. He won an esports competition that involved challenges such as playing Fortnite and Madden, as well as filming a Super Bowl-style commercial. His mom, Michelle, beamed with pride.
“He’s a freshman. He’s the youngest to ever get in the finals for this national competition,” his mom, Michelle, said. “It was a technology competition and he did a lot of filming, cutting, and editing for his commercial. He won this trip for him and mom to come here with all expenses paid.”
They flew in from Wilmington, where Michael Jordan spent his formative years. Michelle grew up in Massachusetts. Standing there at the draft with her son brought back memories of her dad.
“My dad, bless his soul, was an enormous football fan. He would have just died to be here,” she said. “This would have been his dream. I want to just be here with my son, live that out, do some fun things, and see how he does in the competition.”
Having fun with the haters
With the Patriots fresh off of a deep playoff run, there were plenty of Steelers fans ready to talk smack, said Andrew Brezina, who came from Middletown, New Jersey.
“It’s a struggle,” he said. “These Pittsburgh fans are not nice to me. Something about beating them or something like that. I think they’re a little sore. They keep telling me how many [Super Bowl] wins they’ve won, but I think we’re kind of even, right?”
New England and Pittsburgh are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six. Steelers fans dominated the crowd, but one of the highlights was seeing all the teams represented.
“I think we’ve counted a single jersey from every team around here,” Brezina said. “So it’s kind of cool to see the diversity of teams around here. Really freaking cool.”
North Shore in the house
Niko Silverio made the trip from Newburyport to see New England’s Day 2 selections in person.
He was impressed with the packed crowd, and was looking forward to seeing who the Patriots took on defense. New England could pick up more weapons for the offense via trade, he said, referencing reports that the Patriots are in the mix to acquire Eagles receiver A.J. Brown.
“I think we’re good and we’ve gotten better,” Silverio said. “We’ve got Romeo Doubs, and A.J. Brown is coming soon. I think we’re going back to the Super Bowl.”
Lots to do and see
In addition to the food, the stage, and the overflow seating inside the stadium, there were plenty of activities for fans to do on-site.
“The first night, when we walked in, they were doing a 40-yard dash and field goal attempts,” said Christopher Smith, a Patriots fan from Pennsylvania. “I think Pittsburgh is a great city. Everyone was like don’t come here, the traffic is going to be crazy and there’s going to be way too many people, but it hasn’t been bad at all. There’s a lot to engage with. It’s been an amazing experience.”
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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