Why Mack Hollins arrived at the Super Bowl barefoot and in shackles

Mack Hollins became one of Super Bowl Sunday’s most talked-about figures before kickoff at Super Bowl LX, after arriving barefoot in a prison-style jumpsuit with shackles, a pregame entrance that instantly went viral.

The New England Patriots receiver turned what is usually a routine walk to warmups into a moment of spectacle. Photos and clips of the entrance spread rapidly across social media, briefly dominating pregame conversation and turning a depth player into one of the night’s most visible figures.

The outfit that stopped viewers mid-scroll

Hollins’ first look featured a maroon prison-style jumpsuit, visible restraints on his wrists and ankles, and a face covering that made the entrance deliberately unsettling. It was not a random stunt. The choice aligned closely with two things Hollins has become known for around the league: dramatic, themed arrivals and a rigid commitment to going barefoot whenever possible.

For warmups, he later switched into a second outfit that nodded to Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel’s background, including a high school “Warriors” jersey, ensuring the cameras stayed on him well into pregame coverage.

The barefoot routine is real, not a gimmick

The shoeless element of the look is not confined to Super Bowl theatrics. Hollins has spent multiple seasons walking barefoot in stadiums, during walkthroughs and even at media sessions, often explaining that he sees shoes as optional tools rather than necessities.

He has described the habit as a mix of comfort and personal belief, arguing that constant footwear dulls physical feedback and alters natural movement. Critics have dismissed it as attention-seeking, but teammates have largely come to accept it as part of who he is.

Who Mack Hollins is beyond the viral moment

Hollins, a 6-foot-4 receiver from Rockville, Maryland, played college football at North Carolina and entered the NFL as a mid-round pick. He has built a lengthy career by doing the less glamorous work coaches value from depth receivers, including perimeter blocking, special teams contributions and stepping into high-leverage snaps when needed.

He is also a Super Bowl champion from earlier in his career, adding context to the moment. This was not a newcomer chasing attention, but a veteran who understands exactly how bright the stage is and how to use it.

Why the moment mattered

While the outfit itself was pure spectacle, it reflected a broader reality of modern Super Bowls, where pregame moments increasingly exist as standalone events. Hollins’ entrance proved that a single, striking visual can dominate conversation without a word being spoken.

Long after kickoff, the image of Mack Hollins barefoot and in shackles remained one of the game’s most enduring talking points, underscoring how quickly attention can shift on the NFL’s biggest night and how intentionally Hollins chose to meet that moment.