Foxborough, MA – November 2025
Tight end Thomas Odukoya, currently on the New England Patriots’ practice squad, has reportedly turned down a 53-man roster offer from the New York Jets — a deal that would have guaranteed a higher salary and an immediate role in their offense — to remain in New England and wait for the right opportunity with the team he believes in.
League insiders say the Jets wanted Odukoya as a depth tight end with a path to playing time as early as next week. But Odukoya declined, choosing system familiarity, locker-room chemistry, and long-term trust over a quick promotion with a division rival.
“A bigger role is great — but only if it feels right,” Odukoya allegedly told a teammate. “I’d rather wait for my chance in New England than rush into a jersey that doesn’t mean anything to me.”
Inside Gillette Stadium, the decision earned quiet respect. Coaches value Odukoya as a reliable “plug-in option” who already knows the playbook and can be activated without adjustment time — especially with New England’s tight end room dealing with minor injuries.
To Patriots fans, the move is being called “a loyalty flex in one of the coldest rivalries in football.”
From a career perspective, it’s a bet on himself. Odukoya is accepting short-term risk — less money, less spotlight — in pursuit of a longer-term payoff: a role that truly matters in a system he belongs to.
In the position room, his continued work on route details, QB timing, and blocking assignments for this week’s game plan is a clear message to the staff: when the Patriots call, he’s not just ready — he’s the right fit.
Emotionally, the story hits New England’s core values: loyalty, grit, and a willingness to take the long way.
“I’m not chasing numbers — I’m chasing what feels right,” a source relayed Odukoya saying. If activation day comes, it won’t just be a practice-squad call-up; it’ll be the reward for steadfastness inside a frosty rivalry, where red, white & blue is not just a jersey — it’s a choice.
