Mack Hollins loves to walk around barefoot and he’s certainly made his mark during his first season with the Buffalo Bills, who open their playoff schedule Sunday at home against the Denver Broncos. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)Getty Images
Orchard Park, N.Y. – Buried in a meaningless touchdown during a Week 17 blowout against the New York Jets, you’ll find the ethos of the 2024 Buffalo Bills.
Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw a short screen pass to practice squad wide receiver Tyrell Shavers, who navigated through a few blocks on his way to a 69-yard touchdown. It was an incredible moment for Shavers, a second-year receiver who spent the previous four months trying to stomach not making the team after a sensational training camp.
Not many starters were left in the game, but Mack Hollins remained in the huddle. He never complains about an assignment. Whether he’s getting the ball or asked to block for a teammate, he just gets to work.
When offensive coordinator Joe Brady sent the play down to Trubisky, he wouldn’t have blamed Hollins – an eight-year NFL veteran – for calling his own number.
“I called a screen,” Brady said, “and you got a vet that very easily could have said, ‘You know what, I’m gonna go take that screen. Shavs, you go out there and block for me.‘ ”
Instead, Hollins let the young player have his moment. Shavers caught the ball and Hollins’ first block opened the lane for Shavers as he found the end zone, pointing and shaking his finger at the Jets’ defenders chasing from behind.
“With his personality, with his work ethic, he’s such a selfless player,” Brady said. “He was the first one celebrating with (Shavers). That’s who Mack is. There’s a reason he was brought here.”
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Hollins has become the Bills’ poster boy for unselfishness. It’s a team philosophy coach Sean McDermott has preached since he arrived in 2017, but few have embodied that character trait quite like Hollins.
The Bills host the Denver Broncos at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs. It’ll be Hollins’ first playoff game since 2018, when he played in three for the Philadelphia Eagles on their road to the Super Bowl.
Hollins was general manager Brandon Beane’s first acquisition when free agency opened last March. There wasn’t much fanfare about a journeyman receiver who signed a one-year deal with his fifth NFL team. The Bills love positional flexibility, and the receiver was known as much for his performance on special teams as he was for catching passes.
Hollins has since become one of the most popular Bills on the team. Fans have grown to love his quirky personality and even go out of their way to video his sideline antics during the game. A video of Hollins playing air guitar during “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers against the Jets has over 100,000 impressions.
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Hollins had options when free agency arrived. He had his best season in Las Vegas with Derek Carr in 2022, setting career highs in receptions (57), yards (690) and touchdowns (four).
When Carr moved on to New Orleans, and the Saints were in the market for a receiver, Beane suggested Trubisky try urging Hollins to join him in Buffalo.
“I said, ‘Bro, you’re signing with Buffalo. This is the spot for you,‘ ” said Trubisky, who played with Hollins in college at North Carolina.
“I knew the personalities match, and he’d be great for this locker room. I was like, ‘Dude, it’s gonna be cold in December and January, but it’s gonna be worth it. And I think you’re gonna have a great role in this team. I think you have a career year.’ And he really has.”
Hollins played more snaps (721) than any other Bills receiver this season. He finished with the most receiving touchdowns (five) and served as the team’s top boundary blocker and hype man. The Bills have had plenty of special teams standouts over the years since Beane arrived, but few have had the impact of Hollins.
Taiwan Jones, Siran Neal, and Tyler Matakevich shined on special teams during their Bills tenures but barely played on offense or defense. It felt like the Bills aimed for Hollins to buck that trend. He had never played with a quarterback as good as Josh Allen.
“We just felt like, here’s a guy who’s smart, who’s got talent, who maybe as he learns our offense can up his role there yet help us on teams and play that versatile piece inside, outside,” Beane said. “The intelligence piece is huge in this offense at receiver.”
Hollins said that as he’s aged in the NFL, he’s gone from making decisions based on what looks best on paper to trusting his gut.
“In the past, I’m like, oh, well, it makes sense because they have fewer receivers, or it’s a better location, or the (offensive coordinator) did this, or whatever. And the year doesn’t work out the way I wanted to,” Hollins said. “Versus here, at the time (Stefon Diggs) was here. They already had their guys, but I don’t know, it feels right. When I had opportunities to talk to the guys like Mitch, just felt like it was right.”
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins, arrives at Highmark Stadium for and NFL game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y.. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)AP
The on-field contributions have been massive for an offense that needed to replace the lost production of Diggs and Gabe Davis.
However, Hollins’ most valuable contribution has been his ability to bring the team together. From his on-field celebrations and quirky Instagram reels to his we-over-me approach as a teammate, Hollins has endeared himself to the entire Bills locker room.
Allen and Brady walked around St. John Fisher University without shoes every day during training camp because Hollins rarely wears shoes. It’s a lifestyle choice. He even has his own shirt with his last name spelled out – with footprints in place of the Ls – and the catchphrase: “Free the feet.”
Hollins is different, and his teammates love it all.
During camp, Shavers told Hollins he wanted to be in his shadow to learn everything. He showed up to the gym at Fisher every morning at 6 a.m., to catch 150-200 balls off the Jugs machine.
In Philadelphia, veterans such as tight end Zach Ertz showed Hollins the ropes. Now, in Buffalo, Hollins pays it forward to the younger players.
“He’s just a natural leader,” Shavers said. “Just the way he handles his business, it makes guys want to follow him.
“Even like on the mental side, just telling me to stay in it with being on the practice squad, just talking to me, giving me words of encouragement to keep me motivated, keep me going.”
Players gravitate toward Hollins.
He’s become fast friends with right guard O’Cyrus Torrence. On Fridays, the two sometimes go out to eat for some Korean barbeque. Torrence even appeared on one of Hollins’ popular Instagram reels, where he posts time hacks, science experiments and workout advice.
Torrence joined last month for a 10-minute workout special from the Bills’ field house.
He invited himself.
“I had seen him doing these quick little workouts and I always want to be doing extra little workouts after practice,” Torrence said. “He’s a chill guy. … He’s a cool guy to talk to and sit around with. He’s like the older mentor, older brother kind of vibes, but he’s chill.”
Hollins has made a bunch of huge plays for the Bills this season: His touchdown grab against the San Francisco 49ers in the snow or catching an onside kick against Detroit and almost returning it for a score come to mind.
Just as memorable are the celebrations when teammates score. Hollins may be the best creator of in-play celebrations in the NFL.
When Allen scored on an epic 26-yard touchdown run against the Kansas City Chiefs on 4th-and-2 late in their November clash, Hollins can be seen – on the complete opposite side of the play – pointing to the end zone as Allen began his pursuit for the goal line.
On Keon Coleman’s touchdown against the Jets, Hollins spent 20 seconds marching by himself in the end zone until he finally made his way to his teammates.
Hollins’ team-first approach has permeated throughout the locker room.
Beane said it was hard to predict the kind of impact Hollins would have on the team, but he knew there was something special about the 31-year-old.
“I was unaware of the bare feet thing and all that at the time, but you could tell, like he believes what he believes,” Beane said. “He’s fine being who he is. He’s not, you know, you’re not going to change him.
“It’s good to have guys on your team like that. Every team has its own identity. … whatever you would call them, glue guys, or just guys people want to be around them. They got a magnetic personality, or they got a way about them.”
Brady said the Bills are in their position because of guys like Hollins.
“He’s a really good football player, but he does all the little things that you want in your locker room,” Brady said.
“Everybody’s embraced him. You know, I have no shoes on right now. I’m not going to show you that, but everybody loves him. I’m appreciative of him.”
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