New England Patriots
Hollins was called for taunting when New England was down by 25 points in the fourth quarter.
Mack Hollins will need to write a hefty check to the NFL for his actions against the Jaguars. AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper
October 3, 2026 | 5:25 PM
1 minute to read
Consequences from last week’s dreadful loss are still being felt by the New England Patriots.
The NFL handed wide receiver Mack Hollins a pair of fines totaling nearly $35K on Saturday for his actions in the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3.
Hollins, 33, was penalized $22,500 for unnecessary roughness and another $11,941 for taunting, both of which occurred on a single play.
The veteran WR nearly converted a third down while the Patriots were down 28-3 at the start of the final quarter and led with his helmet on a hit against safety Eric Murray. Hollins promptly celebrated by doing the “too small” gesture in front of Murray, which instantly drew a whistle.
Watch the play here:
Double whammy for Mack Hollins on this play. He was fined $22,500 for use of the helmet and another $11,941 for taunting, which was flagged. pic.twitter.com/opkjIXhQ5K
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 3, 2026
The league prohibits a player from lowering their head and hitting an opponent with their helmet. To make matters worse, Hollins targeted Murray’s head on the play, which may have increased the fine total.
The taunting penalty resulted in a 4th-and-16 for New England. The situation otherwise would have been a manageable 4th-and-1 in the red zone when the team was in desperate need of a positive moment on the field. Perhaps the Patriots would have gone on to score their first touchdown since the fourth quarter of Week 2.
Hollins had a decent day as quarterback Drake Maye’s top target before being flagged. He racked up six receptions (nine targets) for 87 yards with a 21-yard catch early in the first quarter.
Ironically, the Patriots’ current WR1 was recognized by the NFL Players Association as the Week 4 Community MVP for putting on a Special Olympics field day in Foxborough.
Hollins worked with the Patriots Foundation to host the event for over 100 athletes and their families on Sept. 22, which earned him the admirable off-field accolade.
New England will need Hollins on his best behavior if it wants a chance at beating the Buffalo Bills on the road at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday.
Kaley Brown
Kaley Brown is a sports producer who covers breaking and trending news about the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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