The Fact New Patriot Reggie Gilliam is in a Group Chat With 40 Fullbacks, Past and Present, Means There is Still Hope for This World

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Call me old if you must. "OK, Boomer" me to your heart's content. Say I listen to Yacht Rock and watch black and white sitcoms on Tubi, and you'll get no argument from me. But still I'll tell you I loved it when the Patriots signed Reggie Gilliam, Pro Football Focus' highest-rated fullback (minimum 200 blocks), in free agency. 

I get what you're saying. We live in an 11-personnel, 3-receiver world. Progress happens. I'm not claiming pro football peaked in the 2-RB days any more than I'd say it went downhill when they legalized the forward pass. 

All I am saying is that I love having a professional back there. A guy dedicated to the proposition that the game hasn't completely evolved to the point where it's all about finesse and athleticism. That there's still room for Blunt Force Trauma. 

With all due respect to Jack Westover (a converted tight end), Khyiris Tonga, Milton Williams, Gilliam is the first full-time fullback the Patriots have had since Jakob Johnson in 2021. And you have to go back to James Develin from 2013-2019 to find a truly elite one. 

Until now. 

Which is why I'm glad Josh McDaniels is going to have the kinetic weapon that is Gilliam in his arsenal this year. And why it warms my heart to learn that he's part of a group chat of fullbacks who text about the position regularly:

Boston Herald - [Gilliam] if he feels like he can take on a bigger role in the passing game under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. 

“Absolutely,” Gilliam said. “I feel like I’ve been underutilized before and I feel like a lot of people don’t know what I can do with the ball in my hand because it hasn’t been displayed. I haven’t really had the opportunity to do so, but I definitely feel like there’s some untapped potential there.”

He’s embraced his identity as a fullback, however. He said Tuesday that he’s part of a group chat called “Fullbacks for life” that includes current NFL fullbacks as well as NFL legends like Mike Alstott and Lorenzo Neal. There are around 40 participants in the group chat, and it’s active enough that Gilliam has notifications muted. \

I'm just going to assume Jimmy Neckroll is on that chat as well, and contributes as much as anybody. 

And this is no idle chat. This isn't Monty Python's "The Royal Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things." "Fullbacks for Life" is a worthy cause. This group is helping keep this position off the Endangered Species List for future generations to enjoy. So that our children and our children's children too will grow up knowing the sheer joy of watching a 330-pound defensive tackle get earholed and seeing a middle linebacker with a full head of steam get blown to smithereens at the goal line as the halfback goes in untouched. Misdirections and crack-tosses are all well and good. But sometimes you just want violence. That's what the noble men of "Fullbacks for Life" are keeping alive. 

And I for one am just glad we have a member on our roster. Reggie Gilliam, professional fullback. Underutilized no more.