New England Patriots running back Terrell Jennings (26) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) AP
FOXBOROUGH — When the play call came in from the sidelines on first and goal from the Atlanta 3 midway through the second quarter, Patriots left guard Jared Wilson said the offensive line was excited.
They wanted to get running back Terrell Jennings a touchdown.
“He works so hard. He practices so hard every day,” Wilson said. “We said, ‘Let’s get him this.’”
Jennings is an easy guy to root for. Other than a couple of gameday elevations and two weeks on the 53-man roster, Jennings spent most of his professional career on the Patriots’ practice squad. He’d carried the ball just 20 times before Sunday and none of those runs crossed the goal line.
But he made it look easy on Sunday. Jennings took the handoff from quarterback Drake Maye and drove through the left side of the line, using blocks by Jack Westover and Will Campbell and strode into the end zone to put New England up 14-7.
It was just one touchdown. On its face, it was neither decisive nor athletically remarkable. It was one of six scored in the Patriots’ 24-23 win, on a day when 71 of them were scored in the NFL.
But this touchdown was special.
Only a small percentage of players who’ve ever played football can say they scored a touchdown in the NFL. Jennings is now forever in that club.
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New England Patriots running back Terrell Jennings (26) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons linebacker JD Bertrand (40) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)AP
But it meant more than that, too.
It validated the years he spent at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Florida, dedicated to getting better despite considerable financial hardships that left him without a permanent home for stretches.
It validated four years at Florida A&M, an FCS program far from the bright lights of the Sunshine State’s glamour programs. It rewarded his season-and-a-half of mimicking opponents in practice, hoping for this chance.
But a season-ending injury to Antonio Gibson, followed by Rhamondre Stevenson’s toe ailment this week, earned Jennings not only a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster, but No. 2 running back responsibilities behind TreVeyon Henderson.
For Jennings’ teammates, seeing hard work and belief get rewarded gave everybody a lift.
“He’s worked his tail off. He’s a guy who has been on practice squads and given the defense great looks,” Patriots veteran tackle Morgan Moses said. “He’s a great ball player.”
Will Campbell agreed.
“He’s a great dude. He runs hard,” Will Campbell said. “I love blocking for him.”
Pop Douglas wasn’t on the field, but he raced off the sideline to celebrate Jennings’ touchdown. Officially, the run was three yards, but Jennings’ journey to that end zone was much longer. Nobody knows that better than Douglas.
“For those who don’t know his story,” Douglas said, “He really got out of the mud.”
They were teammates together at Mandarin and are long-time friends. On Saturday night, a family friend they called Tiger, who both players were close to, was killed in Jacksonville. He was on their mind as they took the field.
“He wasn’t a family member, but he was a close friend to my family,“ Jennings said. ”I was just balling for them today."
Douglas was emotional after his own touchdown and again after Jennings scored.
“What he went through and what he accomplished, it’s a blessing to see him here,” Douglas said. “(Tiger) was with us. This whole morning was hard. ... I just know he was with me, and he was with Terrell, too. He got a touchdown, too. And that’s a blessing.”
Wilson was only loosely aware of Jennings’ past, but his face broke into a wide smile when asked about him.
“It was so great to see him get his touchdown. He works so hard. He practices so hard every day,” Wilson said. “Seeing something like that happen for him is great for all of us. It was a great feeling.”
Jennings had one catch for nine yards and finished with 11 carries for 35 yards. He was still carrying the touchdown ball when he walked to the podium after the game. In his press conference, his gratefulness overflowed.
“I saw the hole. As soon as I touched the end zone, I was thanking God in my head,” he said. “This is what I play the game for.”
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