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New England Patriots offensive lineman Trent Brown came through big during the team's Thursday Night Football matchup against the Atlanta Falcons -- but for something off of the gridiron.
Brown, a graduate of Westover High School in Albany, Georgia, brought 90 students from his alma mater to the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, CBS Boston reports.
Brown reached out to Westover High football coach Adam Miller about the surprise trip, arranging buses and supplying food for the nearly three-hour trip from Albany to Atlanta, as well as gift cards for concessions at the stadium.
The football team -- which, fittingly, also uses the "Patriots" moniker -- also got to take a tour of Mercedes-Benz Stadium before the game.
“Exposure is the most important thing for our youth. If I can just inspire a couple of those guys — whether they go do whatever, just be successful outside of the city, feel comfortable blazing their own trails,” Brown told WBZ-TV’s Steve Burton on Patriots GameDay.
The Patriots defeated the Falcons, 25-0, with Brown providing crucial protection in the trenches for rookie quarterback Mac Jones and opening gaps for New England's rushing attack.
Brown was re-acquired by New England in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders this past offseason.
The 27-year-old started for the Patriots in every game during the 2018 NFL season, which resulted in the franchise's most recent Super Bowl victory. The Raiders signed the offensive tackle to a four-year, $66 million contract as an unrestricted free agent one month later, but injuries have limited Brown to just 16 appearances prior to the 2021 campaign.
Brown appeared in 97% of offensive snaps during Thursday's win, the most among his three appearances this season.