Former Patriots Pro Bowl fullback James Develin will be in the house at Gillette Stadium Sunday night when Tom Brady makes his much-hyped return to New England leading the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers against Bill Belichick’s squad.
Develin is in town a week early as he finishes up his training for the 2021 Boston Marathon, which he will run Oct. 11 for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. (To support Develin’s fundraising efforts, click here!)
Like so many, he’s fired up to see his former teammate take the turf he once dominated to help build the greatest dynasty the NFL or modern sports had ever seen.
“It’s still kind of weird to see him wearing that jersey,” Develin admitted from his Pennsylvania home last week. “But, hey, I love that guy man. And I support him wholeheartedly in whatever he decides is best for him. I’m glad to see him having the success he’s had. But it’s definitely still strange to not see him in a Pats uniform.
“It’ll be good to see him in Gillette once more.
Hopefully he gets a good ovation. I’m excited to see that. I’m sure it’s going to be wild.”
But don’t mistake Develin’s support for Brady and desire to see TB12 get an ovation from the Foxborough faithful as some Matt Damon heel turn. Nope, after working his way up from the practice squad to a key contributor of whom Belichick described as “one of the most appreciated and respected players we have ever had,” Develin will be rooting hard for the home team.
“The Pats, of course. They’ll forever, till the day I die be my team,” Develin declared.
Beyond the big game pitting his QB against his team, a middle ground he probably shares with so many Patriots fans on some level, Develin is looking forward to spending a little time in his old stomping grounds this week. Entering his second season of retirement and first not in a full-fledged pandemic, the fullback who helped set a physical, blue collar tone for the Patriots offense over his career is settling into life after football as a husband, father of four and businessman.
“We’re gonna kind of kick around all our old spots that we enjoyed up there. Kinda embrace the New England lifestyle in the fall again, maybe go apple picking or something like that,” Develin said with chuckle.
All while cheering for Brady and rooting for the Patriots. It’s just the way it is these days for so many in New England.
Check back to WEEI.com next week for more on James Develin’s decision to “embrace the suck” of training for the 2021 Boston Marathon the way he once approached doing the dirty work that comes with being a Pro Bowl fullback in the NFL. And if you’d like to support Develin's marathon fundraising efforts for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, click here.
