New England Patriots: Week 1 & Philly Mental Health Fair – Turning Preseason Plans into Real-World Good

As September 7 dawned over Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots’ preseason promises weren’t just ink on a page—they were about to become tangible moments of joy for kids, families, and fans across two states. For the Patriots, Week 1 of the 2026 regular season was a dual test: could they win on the field against the Jets, and could they turn months of preseason charity planning into impact that felt personal, not just procedural? From the “Kindness Tailgate” that filled backpacks with hope to the Philadelphia “Mental Health Fair” that broke down stigma, the team proved that their “kindness movement” wasn’t just a preseason talking point—it was a way of showing up, even when the games counted. New England Patriots: Week 1 & Philly Mental Health Fair – Turning Preseason Plans into Real-World Good captures how the Patriots turned two key preseason initiatives into stories of connection, proving that football’s power lies not just in touchdowns, but in the lives it touches.

The “Kindness Tailgate” before the Jets game wasn’t just a continuation of preseason prep—it was a celebration of community. By 9 a.m., three hours before kickoff, the Gillette Stadium parking lot was a hive of activity: Patriots fans in red and Jets fans in green sorted backpacks side by side, while 50 kids from New York City’s Boys & Girls Clubs (invited via the Jets Foundation) wandered the tailgate, eyes wide at the sight of players stopping by to sign autographs and help pack supplies. Linda Carter’s grandson, 8-year-old Tyler, found himself paired with 7-year-old Mia, a Jets fan from Queens, to stuff notebooks into backpacks. “I thought she’d hate the Patriots,” Tyler said, grinning as Mia stuck a Patriots sticker on her Jets hat. “But she said the backpacks are more important than football. She’s right.” By kickoff, the tailgate had collected 4,200 backpacks (surpassing the 3,000-goal) and 18,000 school supplies—enough to equip every student at seven Boston and New York elementary schools. The highlight came when Bailey Zappe led a group of players in handing backpacks to the Boys & Girls Club kids; 9-year-old Javi, who’d never had a new backpack before, hugged Zappe and said, “This has my name on it! I’m gonna take it to school every day.” Zappe, who’d recorded a video promoting the tailgate in preseason, knelt down to high-five Javi. “Preseason was about planning,” Zappe said later. “Today was about seeing Javi’s face. That’s the part you can’t script—and that’s the part that matters.”

On the field, the Patriots’ 27-14 win over the Jets felt like a bonus to the tailgate’s success. But for rookie Jalen Carter, the game had an extra layer of purpose: his second-quarter sack of Jets quarterback Zach Wilson wasn’t just a play—it was a $1,000 donation to the Patriots Community Kitchen (part of his “Sacks for Supper” pledge). After the game, Carter didn’t head straight to the locker room; he drove to Worcester to deliver the check and serve dinner to 120 residents, including Leo—the 8-year-old from the “Summer Nutrition Program” who’d learned to love veggies at Carter’s “Football & Food” workshop. “He remembered my favorite smoothie!” Leo said, holding up a drawing he’d made of Carter sacking Wilson. Carter laughed as he helped Leo serve mashed potatoes to a resident named Mike. “Preseason was about saying I’d do this,” Carter said, wiping his hands on his apron. “Today was about actually doing it. Leo’s drawing? That’s better than any sack.” The kitchen used the $1,000 to fund the first week of the “Fall Snack Club”—a preseason promise kept—and by Monday, 200 kids had signed up to stop by after school for snacks and football drills.

Three days later, on September 10, the focus shifted to Philadelphia, where the “Cross-Division Kindness Exchange” brought the “Mental Health Fair” to life at Broncos Stadium at Mile High (a last-minute venue switch to accommodate more attendees). Patriots safety Kyle Dugger and Eagles cornerback Darius Slay arrived at 8 a.m. to set up, hanging posters that read “It’s OK to Not Be OK” and arranging art supplies for the “Fun Zone.” By 10 a.m., 500 kids and families had filled the stadium’s concourse, with Patriots and Eagles fans alike wearing “Talk & Tackle” t-shirts (half red, half green) to show unity. The “Storytelling Stage” was the heart of the fair: 16-year-old Lila, who’d struggled with panic attacks, shared her story of how football helped her cope, while Dugger talked about supporting his sister through anxiety. “My sister used to hide in her room because she thought no one understood,” Dugger told the crowd. “Events like this let her know she’s not alone—and they let me know I’m not alone in wanting to help her.” The “Peer Support Training” workshop (a preseason addition to the plan) trained 50 high school students to spot signs of distress, with 17-year-old Marcus from Philly saying, “I now know how to ask my friend ‘Are you OK?’ instead of just ‘What’s wrong?’ That’s a skill I’ll use forever.”

The fair’s “Resource Hub” connected 200 families to free mental health services, while the “Fun Zone” saw Patriots and Eagles cheerleaders leading yoga sessions and art therapy—10-year-old Jaxson, a Patriots fan from Boston, painted a picture of a football with the words “Kindness Wins” and gave it to an Eagles fan named Mrs. Taylor. “He said we’re both here for the same thing,” Mrs. Taylor said, tearing up as she held the painting. “That’s the magic of this fair—it’s not about teams. It’s about people.” By the end of the day, the fair had raised $45,000 (surpassing the $30,000 goal) for Philadelphia’s Mental Health Center for Kids, and the Patriots Foundation pledged to fund monthly “Talk & Tackle” workshops at 10 local schools. Slay, who’d been skeptical about partnering with a rival team in preseason, summed it up best: “Dugger and I talked about this in August—we wanted to make a difference, not just host an event. Today, we did that. A kid came up to me and said he’s gonna talk to his mom about his sadness. That’s a win bigger than any game.”

Back in Worcester, September 15 marked the first meeting of the “Fall Snack Club” at the Patriots Community Kitchen—another preseason promise turned into action. Jalen Carter showed up with a bag of footballs and led 30 kids in a “tackle the cone” drill before helping them make fruit parfaits (his favorite snack). Leo was there, along with Lila (Strong’s cousin, who’d moved to Worcester after the wildfires) and 28 other kids, all eager to mix yogurt, berries, and granola while talking about their first week of school. “Preseason was about planning the snack club,” said Maria Lopez, who baked “Legacy Brownies” for the kids. “Today was about watching Lila teach a new kid how to layer the parfait. That’s community—something you can’t plan for, but something you can nurture.” The snack club’s first week was such a success that the kitchen added a second day (Tuesdays) starting the next week, with Pierre Strong Jr. volunteering to lead drills on that day.

For the Patriots, the first two weeks of September were a reminder that preseason planning is just the start. The “Kindness Tailgate” didn’t end when the Jets game did—it ended when a kid in Boston opened a backpack with a personalized note. The “Mental Health Fair” didn’t end when the doors closed—it ended when a teen in Philly decided to talk about their feelings. The “Fall Snack Club” didn’t end when the first drill was over—it ended when a kid felt seen, not just fed. Bill Belichick highlighted this in a team meeting after the Philly fair, holding up photos of Javi with his backpack and Lila sharing her story. “Preseason is about building a foundation,” Belichick said. “But the season is about laying bricks—one kind act at a time. You didn’t just plan these events—you showed up for them. That’s what makes this team special.”

New England Patriots: Week 1 & Philly Mental Health Fair – Turning Preseason Plans into Real-World Good isn’t just a story about two events. It’s a story about how preseason promises become legacy. The Patriots didn’t just win a game against the Jets—they won the trust of a kid who’d never had a new backpack. They didn’t just host a fair in Philly—they gave a teen the courage to talk about mental health. And they didn’t just start a snack club—they gave kids a place to feel safe, happy, and loved. As the regular season continues, one thing is clear: the Patriots’ “kindness movement” isn’t slowing down. It’s just getting better at turning plans into purpose.