The Patriots rookie class has been getting acclimated to New England while sticking around town for a development program.

On Thursday, that included getting out in the community to host a skills and drills clinic with local kids at the Reservation Road Park on a beautiful day in Boston.

"The spirit of today is giving back to the kids," said wide receiver Kyle Williams, whom the Patriots selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

"You see us out here with young kids that play football and who have never played football and are just getting started. For us we're just inspiring them to come outside and have some fun and just see what the game gives you – the joy that it gives you."

The event was a partnership between the Patriots Foundation and the Hyde Park Cowboys youth football program, with an invite extended to other youth football organizations across the city of Boston.

Working with children ages 7 to 14, the newest Patriots players broke up into position groups to lead them through a rotation of skill stations, as alumni player Pete Brock facilitated the program to ensure an engaging and well-structured experience for all participants.

It was the rookie's first time volunteering with the Patriots Foundation, and they saw firsthand what their team means to the New England community.

"It was just fun, you know?" said Williams. "These kids, this is what they look up to and I remember when I was in their position, and I wanted somebody to just come out there and have fun with. I just want to let them know that we're just like them, just at an older age."

With most veterans leaving town to enjoy the last slice of the offseason before training camp, Williams said this development program has been a great opportunity for the newcomers to get up to speed and build camaraderie.

"I mean it's just been a blessing to just be around the rookies," he said. "Create bonds and everything, build relationships, and just get caught up with the vets so that when we get to training camp we're all clicking on the same page."

While they've been working hard, there has been some time for pleasure.

In the rookies' downtime, the team organized outings for the rookies to visit Fenway Park for a Boston Red Sox game, and on Tuesday, they were able to visit the Boston Celtics practice facility to get a tour of the Red Auerbach Center.

"I was going out there for a 10-day (NBA) contract," said Williams. "I tried to get some shoes but their sizes only started at a 13.5, which tells you how big those NBA players truly are. But it was a great experience just being able to have two professional teams with a history of winning share the tactics and experiences on how to continue to win."

At the Auerbach Center, players saw the NBA's 2025 Sixth Man of the Year, guard Payton Pritchard, and got to meet with Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and head coach Joe Mazzulla.

The rookies took in as much as they could absorb from the two basketball minds.

"Everything is a mindset, you know?" Williams said of what he got out of conversations with Stevens and Mazzulla.

"I think mindset will take you further than what talent and skills could. So, if you could just get in the right mindset and be able to carry that throughout your everyday life – it was basically how you do anything is how you do everything. The way you wake up and make your bed is the way you approach everything. I'm taking that mindset and implementing it in my life and trying to spread that among these kids."
Between visiting with the Celtics, Red Sox, and helping put on the youth football clinic, Patriots rookies got a glimpse of what sports mean to the New England community – from the highest professional level down to grass roots recreational leagues for kids.

For Williams, it gave him even more desire to represent the Patriots to the best of his ability – both on and off the field.

"It's huge," Williams said of the sports community.

"You come around and everybody you see it's Patriots (gear) everywhere. You see Celtics (gear) everywhere. Just seeing the love that this town has for sports, it just makes you want to give back and it just makes you want to compete harder because you know you have a huge community behind you and supporting you. I love it."

DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer