Early Life and Family

Jacob Hollister was born on November 18, 1993. He has a twin brother, Cody Hollister, who is a wide receiver and has also played for the New England Patriots. The two brothers have shared much of their football journey, including playing on the same NFL team. Jacob played college football at the University of Wyoming, where he developed into a reliable and athletic tight end.

College Football Career at Wyoming

At the University of Wyoming, Hollister demonstrated versatility and strong receiving skills as a tight end. His college career helped him garner attention from NFL scouts, despite going undrafted. Hollister’s ability to create separation and contribute to the passing game significantly boosted his prospects for a professional football career.

Professional Career with the New England Patriots

Jacob Hollister signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2017. His three-year contract was worth $1.67 million, which included $90,000 in guaranteed money and a $10,000 signing bonus. Impressively, his twin brother Cody Hollister also signed with the organization as an undrafted free agent, making the pair the only active twins on the same NFL team during the 2017 season. They became just the third set of twins to play concurrently in the league.

In the Patriots' first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacob stood out by catching seven passes for 116 yards. Although the game was part of the preseason, his performance drew praise and offered a promising glimpse of his potential. During training camp and the preseason, Hollister competed with fellow tight end James O'Shaughnessy for a spot behind established veterans Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen.