Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas energized the masses at Gillette Stadium this season with 31 catches for 447 yards and three touchdowns.
Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas energized the masses at Gillette Stadium this season with 31 catches for 447 yards and three touchdowns.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
INDIANAPOLIS — DeMario Douglas wants to stick around New England, if for no other reason than to get the taste of a Super Bowl loss out of his mouth.,
The Patriots’ receiver, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, said there have been no talks about a possible extension with New England yet, but he made it clear where he wants to be moving forward.
“I haven’t had any talks about an extension, but I would love to stay,” said Douglas. “This feels like home. I’ve been here three seasons now, and I love the coaching staff and my teammates. I loved working with the coaches last year; it felt like I finally got to work with a complete staff. I would definitely love to come back.”
Douglas finished his third season with the Patriots with 31 catches for 447 yards and three touchdowns. Among pass catchers on the roster with 30 or more receptions, the 5-foot-8-inch, 192-pounder was second only to Kayshon Boutte in terms of yards per catch (14.4).
One of the senior members of New England’s receiving corps (only he and Boutte date back to the woeful 2023 team), Douglas feels emotionally invested in the future of the franchise, so much so he said he can’t stop watching the Super Bowl LX loss to the Seahawks.
“I’ve watched it too many times. I can’t stop watching it,” he confessed. “Where did we go wrong? I’ve just been watching over, and over, and over to try to make sense of what happened. I don’t just watch the defense to see what they did so well against us. I want to know what happened. Why? How?
“In the end, it just gives me a hunger to come back next year and lock in even stronger. I watch and go back to working out to not just help get us back to that stage, but win.”
Patriots receiver DeMario "Pop" Douglas partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts to champion year-round, one-to-one youth mentorship throughout Eastern Massachusetts.
Patriots receiver DeMario "Pop" Douglas partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts to champion year-round, one-to-one youth mentorship throughout Eastern Massachusetts.ourtesy Wendy Shea Photography
Giving back
Douglas has had the chance to get his mind off the game through his latest off-field endeavor: partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts. Douglas has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts to champion year-round, one-to-one youth mentorship throughout Eastern Massachusetts.
As a newly announced ambassador, “Pop” is using his platform to expand access to mentoring relationships, engage directly with local youth, and encourage more volunteers to step up.
“I had a couple of really important mentors growing up, like uncles and people in the community who just helped guide me in the right direction,” he said. “I feel like there are a lot of kids out there who could use the same sort of guidance, and me working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts would lend a hand in getting more people involved.”
Douglas credited Jessica Hurley, a woman in his Florida community who played a sizable role in his development as a child.
“She used to take me out of the St. Augustine/Jacksonville area when I was a kid, and we’d go to Tallahassee and Jacksonville,” said Douglas, who referred to Hurley as his Godmother. “She took me to see different things when I was younger, and that’s what helped widen my vision. She was a great mentor to me. I’d love to help these kids in the same way.”
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.