Eliot Wolf, the Patriots’ executive vice president of player personnel, knows the Green Bay Packers like the back of his hand. And he is not alone, with offensive quality control coach T.C. McCartney, defensive quality control coach Jamael Lett, outside linebackers coach DeMarcus Covington, and special teams coordinator Cam Achord all sharing those former ties to Green Bay. But here is the kicker: it is the seven players across both active rosters, practice squads, and reserve lists who have played for both clubs that really tell the story heading into Sunday’s 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium.
Green Bay’s Patriots Pipeline is Deep
First up, look at running back Pierre Strong Jr. The dude was a fourth-round pick back in 2022 by Bill Belichick, 127th overall. As a rookie, Strong checked into 15 games, putting up 100 rushing yards, 42 receiving yards, and 115 kickoff return yards, even grabbing his first NFL touchdown in 23 all-purpose opportunities. He got traded to the Cleveland Browns the next August for Tyrone Wheatley Jr., spent two campaigns in the AFC North, and then, boom, lands on the Packers’ practice squad in 2025. Now, the 27-year-old is on Green Bay’s 53-man roster, rocking 50 career games with 116 carries for 536 yards, 34 catches for 243 yards, 24 kickoff returns for 570 yards, and two touchdowns. Talk about a journey, huh?
Then there is tight end Jonnu Smith. This guy put up 55 receptions for 539 yards and one touchdown in 30 games with the Patriots, starting 19 of them. His New England stint ended halfway through a four-year deal with a trade to the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 for a seventh-rounder. After hitting the Pro Bowl with the Miami Dolphins in 2024, he was traded again, this time to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, a one-year deal landed him at Lambeau Field in August. Smith first broke into the NFL with the Tennessee Titans as the 100th pick in 2017. He has racked up 351 catches, 28 carries, 3,819 yards, and 32 touchdowns from scrimmage over 148 career games. Mike Mularkey and Mike Vrabel were his head coaches in the AFC South before he signed up at Gillette Stadium. This is a veteran presence with a lot of history on the field.
From Foxborough Rookies to Green Bay’s Squad
It is not just about the vets, though. Defensive tackle David Blay Jr. joined the Packers’ practice squad at the end of September. This 23-year-old actually started his NFL journey in Foxborough, an undrafted guy in 2026. He was waived by the Patriots just two weeks into training camp and finished his rookie preseason with the Philadelphia Eagles before going unclaimed. Now, he is with Green Bay. The roster connections run deep, from the top brass like Eliot Wolf and his scouting crew to the coaching staff, and right down into the locker rooms with these seven players. It adds a whole new layer of intrigue to this Week 9 matchup.
So, when the whistle blows on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium, know this: it is not just a regular season game. It is a reunion. It is a battle where personal history, past allegiances, and insider knowledge are all on the line. Expect every snap to be spiced up with an extra dose of rivalry and familiarity.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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