Seahawks’ Jake Bobo To Live Out ‘Dream’ In Homecoming Vs. Patriots

Jake Bobo had to be home by halftime of Super Bowl XLIX. That was the rule.

After spending that evening with some friends, Bobo returned home to North Andover, Mass. and joined his family to watch the New England Patriots and Malcolm Butler pull off one of the most iconic finishes in Super Bowl history.

Bobo was just a fan then, celebrating the Patriots bringing another Lombardi Trophy back to One Patriot Place with Bobo's own NFL dreams still feeling far-fetched at the time.

But the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver won't be recalling that highly memorable moment in the minds of Patriots fans to his teammates often, if at all, this week.

"You go from as a fan obviously remembering that very fondly to now being in the Seahawks organization and we try to leave that out of most conversations," Bobo told NESN.com

But Bobo returning to play the New England Patriots on Sunday at Gillette Stadium as a member of the Seahawks has been a talking point for his family for some time now. He expects about 60 family members and friends to be in attendance, with that number likely growing the closer it gets to kick off.

This won't be Bobo's first experience playing on the Gillette Stadium turf, though. Just a few months prior to the Patriots' dramatic Super Bowl victory over the Seahawks, Bobo played as a high school freshman in the NFL venue alongside his Belmont Hill teammates in a game against Govenor's Academy. Bobo caught the first touchdown pass of his high school career in that contest with the throw coming from Harry Kraft, the son of Patriots president Jonathan Kraft.

"That was the closest I thought I was going to get to ever playing in Gillette," Bobo said. "But here we are."

There are reasons why Bobo thought this opportunity would never present itself. He was just a three-star recruit in high school and took his talent to Duke, known much more for its prowess on the basketball court and in the classroom than the football field.

Bobo put together a modest three seasons with the Blue Devils before breaking out in a big way during his senior campaign. He caught a team-high 74 passes for 794 yards and one touchdown, easily surpassing what he had done the previous three years. That opened up a chance for Bobo to maximize another year of eligibility and he went to play his final collegiate season for UCLA. He continued his upward trajectory on the West Coast even while going up against talented cornerbacks like current Patriots star Christian Gonzalez. Bobo compiled 817 yards receiving with the Bruins and hauled in seven touchdown passes -- four more than he had during his entire time with Duke.

If Bobo's football career came to a conclusion after his last game with UCLA, he would have been satisfied.

"For me growing up, my dream was to kind of always to play college football," Bobo said. "My dad was a huge college football fan. And so, just growing up, we were watching college ball on Saturdays and to be honest with you, I thought playing ball on Sundays in the NFL was a little bit out of reach. But I guess sometimes you end up surprising yourself."

Just knowing that you're going to play in Gillette as the mecca of football in New England, somewhere as a kid you always dream of playing.

Jake Bobo

Bobo took a chance at the NFL but was initially an afterthought for teams. He performed poorly in workouts leading up to the draft, including running a disappointing 4.99 40-yard dash. When the 2023 NFL Draft came, 259 picks came and went without Bobo hearing his name called.

Bobo went the undrafted route, but only heard from a small handful of teams. He said the Patriots weren't one of them, but he doesn't hold a grudge against them for that.

Bobo decided to stay out west and signed with the Seahawks. The odds certainly are against undrafted rookies to make an NFL team, but Bobo defied them. He provided a unique skill set to one of the most talented wide receiver groups in the league, which features star DK Metcalf along with veteran Tyler Lockett and 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He knew with only one ball for Geno Smith to sling around, it was likely to go to that trio first before him.

But Bobo found playing time by using his sturdy 6-foot-4, 207-pound frame to his advantage. He was a willing blocker and factored into Seattle's terrific ground game. He also displayed his versatility by contributing on special teams and quickly became a fan favorite in Seattle. It's almost as if he was a throwback Patriots player and one legendary coach Bill Belichick would have coveted -- not the most talented player on the field, but getting the most out of his talent.

Bobo made his mark on the passing game, too, finishing the season with 19 receptions for 196 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for a score as well. One of Bobo's touchdown grabs was one of the best from any NFL receiver last season as he climbed over an Arizona Cardinals cornerback and somehow corralled the ball with one hand before getting both feet down in-bounds in the corner of the end zone.

"Just finding ways to contribute, that's kind of been my calling card since being in this organization," Bobo said. "Whatever you're going to ask me to do, I'm going to do it. That's kind of been me and it's continued into this year and hopefully we can take a step forward this year. When you got guys in your receiver room like DK, Tyler and Jax and those guys who are your primetime playmakers, it's fall in line and find a way to get on the field.

"And mine has been do what's asked, whether that's dirty work in the run game, doing some things on special teams and then when you're number gets called in the pass game, going ahead and making plays when the opportunity presents itself. It's a work in progress. It will continue to be a work in progress and kind of keep stacking from there."

There were no incredible grabs for Bobo in Seattle's season-opening win over the Denver Broncos this past Sunday. He didn't even see a target but still put forth a workman-like effort, including playing 77% of special teams snaps.

Perhaps, that first catch of the season will come in the place not far from his childhood home where he watched the Patriots dynasty unfold. And even if that catch doesn't happen, it will be just as special of a moment for Bobo.

"Just knowing that you're going to play in Gillette as the mecca of football in New England, somewhere as a kid you always dream of playing," Bobo said. "I'm finally going to get to live out that dream with some of the family in the stands. So, it will be a lot of fun."