James Develin, a three-time Super Bowl champion and former New England Patriots fullback, welcomed Reggie Gilliam to the team on Mar. 26. Develin reflected on the significance of the fullback position in the Patriots’ offense and expressed optimism about Gilliam’s addition.
The move is noteworthy as it highlights a continued appreciation for the fullback role in professional football, which has become less common in recent years. The Patriots have historically used creative personnel groupings involving fullbacks to gain strategic advantages.
Develin recounted how, during Super Bowl LIII, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels used an unconventional formation featuring two backs and two tight ends to outmaneuver the Los Angeles Rams defense. “We won Super Bowl LIII by catching the Rams in a tight spot where they were matching our 22-personnel with big people. So we just spread it out and we went five-wide the entire drive. Tom hit Gronk down to the 1-yard line, we got in goal line, punched it in, and that was the deciding factor,” Develin said. He added that this sequence demonstrated McDaniels’ creativity.
Looking ahead to next season, Develin sees potential for Gilliam to make a similar impact through physical play and versatile formations. “The fullback fraternity is a pretty small one, so we’re always looking out for each other and showing respect where respect is due. I’m happy that Reggie found a new home… I think the Patriots offense runs at its best when there’s a fullback involved,” he said.
Gilliam acknowledged his connection with Develin through their work with both the NFL Players Association and what they call “the fullback fraternity.” He told reporters he was excited about joining New England: “I’m good friends with James now… He’s had nothing but great things to say about New England… I’m excited to see what [McDaniels] does with me.”
Develin praised Gilliam’s versatility compared to his own career: “Reggie can do it all… He’s a tenacious run blocker, he can carry the ball, he can catch the ball out of the backfield… He can make people miss and do some nice things with the ball in his hands.”
With more teams using smaller defensive players focused on stopping passing attacks, Develin believes deploying powerful fullbacks like Gilliam could create mismatches: “Offenses can now zag the other way…. If I put a 260-pound fullback on the field, what are you going to do?” He concluded by saying that as football cycles away from traditional power running schemes before returning again: “It’s just constant cyclical nature of football.”
