Patriots Wide Receiver Kayshon Boutte Opens Up About Battle with Gambling Addiction
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has shared a personal and emotional essay about his struggles with gambling addiction, reflecting on how it nearly cost him everything he had worked for. In the essay, titled "How The Hell Did I Get Here???", Boutte recounts how his love of betting began during his college years at LSU, where he was determined to succeed despite facing adversity.
Boutte's struggles started after a debilitating ankle injury suffered as a sophomore with the Tigers, which led him to channel his frustration into betting. He would often stay up late and bet all day, spending every spare moment on FanDuel. His addiction quickly spiralled out of control, leaving him broke and feeling lost.
"It was like taking a duffle bag stuffed with 90 bands and just emptying it over a bridge or something," Boutte wrote in his essay. "Throwing it in the wind. Dollars floating away. Gone."
Boutte's addiction had severe consequences, not only financially but also emotionally. He would often wake up in the middle of the night, phone next to the bed, and bet some more. The insomnia he developed was a constant reminder that his addiction was spiralling out of control.
It wasn't until Boutte became a father and returned to the football field that he realized the gravity of his situation. He looked at himself in the mirror one day and knew that his way of living wasn't healthy.
"I just looked at myself in the mirror one day and realized, Bruh, the way you're living ain't healthy," Boutte wrote. "And if I'm being honest, I think there was probably a little bit of shame to that realization, too."
Boutte's essay is not only a cautionary tale about the dangers of gambling addiction but also a testament to his resilience and determination. The Patriots, who took a chance on him in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, have been supportive throughout his struggles.
"I owe the Patriots organization everything," Boutte wrote. "How many of those 32 teams would've just walked away at that point? Especially from a sixth-round pick."
Today, Boutte is thriving as Drake Maye's most-trusted deep threat down the sidelines, breaking through with 33 catches for 551 yards and six touchdowns this season. As he prepares to face the Chargers in the wild-card round of the playoffs, Boutte is determined to use his platform to spread awareness about the dangers of gambling addiction.
"The next time you see a headline about a gambling story, and somebody going down for it….. Just remember that there's a person behind that headline," Boutte wrote. "When you ask yourself, 'How could they do something like that? How could they risk it all? What were they thinking?'
Boutte's message is one of hope and compassion, urging readers to empathize with those struggling with addiction rather than judging them. As he reflects on his journey, Boutte knows that the road to recovery is long and difficult but also possible.
"It wasn't easy," Boutte said in an interview. "But I'm grateful for a second chance, and I want others to know they can get one too."
Boutte's courage to share his story has sparked hope in many, demonstrating that even in the darkest moments, there is always a way forward.
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has shared a personal and emotional essay about his struggles with gambling addiction, reflecting on how it nearly cost him everything he had worked for. In the essay, titled "How The Hell Did I Get Here???", Boutte recounts how his love of betting began during his college years at LSU, where he was determined to succeed despite facing adversity.
Boutte's struggles started after a debilitating ankle injury suffered as a sophomore with the Tigers, which led him to channel his frustration into betting. He would often stay up late and bet all day, spending every spare moment on FanDuel. His addiction quickly spiralled out of control, leaving him broke and feeling lost.
"It was like taking a duffle bag stuffed with 90 bands and just emptying it over a bridge or something," Boutte wrote in his essay. "Throwing it in the wind. Dollars floating away. Gone."
Boutte's addiction had severe consequences, not only financially but also emotionally. He would often wake up in the middle of the night, phone next to the bed, and bet some more. The insomnia he developed was a constant reminder that his addiction was spiralling out of control.
It wasn't until Boutte became a father and returned to the football field that he realized the gravity of his situation. He looked at himself in the mirror one day and knew that his way of living wasn't healthy.
"I just looked at myself in the mirror one day and realized, Bruh, the way you're living ain't healthy," Boutte wrote. "And if I'm being honest, I think there was probably a little bit of shame to that realization, too."
Boutte's essay is not only a cautionary tale about the dangers of gambling addiction but also a testament to his resilience and determination. The Patriots, who took a chance on him in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, have been supportive throughout his struggles.
"I owe the Patriots organization everything," Boutte wrote. "How many of those 32 teams would've just walked away at that point? Especially from a sixth-round pick."
Today, Boutte is thriving as Drake Maye's most-trusted deep threat down the sidelines, breaking through with 33 catches for 551 yards and six touchdowns this season. As he prepares to face the Chargers in the wild-card round of the playoffs, Boutte is determined to use his platform to spread awareness about the dangers of gambling addiction.
"The next time you see a headline about a gambling story, and somebody going down for it….. Just remember that there's a person behind that headline," Boutte wrote. "When you ask yourself, 'How could they do something like that? How could they risk it all? What were they thinking?'
Boutte's message is one of hope and compassion, urging readers to empathize with those struggling with addiction rather than judging them. As he reflects on his journey, Boutte knows that the road to recovery is long and difficult but also possible.
"It wasn't easy," Boutte said in an interview. "But I'm grateful for a second chance, and I want others to know they can get one too."
Boutte's courage to share his story has sparked hope in many, demonstrating that even in the darkest moments, there is always a way forward.
Boutte's essay is so relatable 
I've seen friends of friends spiral out of control with betting and it's heartbreaking 
The fact that he almost lost everything he worked for is just devastating 
And I love how he's using his platform to spread awareness about the dangers of gambling addiction, it's a huge step forward 
As a fan of the Patriots, it's awesome to see Kayshon thriving and doing what he can to help others struggling with addiction 
.
... but Boutte's story is on a whole different level cuz he was almost losing everything 
... as a football player, he has to be super disciplined and it sounds like gambling just kinda took over his life for a hot second 
... I'm glad the Patriots organization has been supportive, that's huge 
... but if Boutte can be open about it, maybe others will feel more comfortable sharing their own struggles 
. The Patriots are pretty cool for having him back on the team too - they've been super supportive, which is awesome 
.
been there myself with procrastination & stuff, but Boutte's got the right message now 
if u r strugglin or nothin, just remember u r not alone 
you think you're doing great on the outside but are secretly drowning in your own addiction? 
it's time to take a step back and reevaluate what's really going on inside that duffle bag 
Boutte's essay is a reminder that even when we hit rock bottom, there's always hope for a second chance 
it takes courage to face our demons head-on, but the end result can be pure gold 
like what even is that? but seriously, it's crazy how addiction can take over your life & you're not even aware of it till something snaps. Boutte's got some serious resilience & determination 
it shows how far we've come as society when athletes like him are willing to open up about their struggles and help others 
his essay is like a wake-up call for everyone who's struggling with addiction, it's not just about you, there are people behind the headlines 
and Boutte's message of hope and compassion is something we all need more of right now 
So Boutte was struggling with gambling addiction and it almost ruined him 
. I mean, who wouldn't get sucked into betting on sports when you're young and feeling stuck 
. But what really got him was having a kid and realizing his addiction was holding him back 
. Now he's using his platform to spread awareness about the dangers of gambling addiction 
. It takes a lot of courage to share something like that, especially when it's still a big part of your life 
.
. his honesty about his struggles with gambling addiction is so brave, like if you think he can be open about that and not get judged then maybe we all should take a page out of his book 
. i'm glad the patriots are supporting him too, they're like a second family to him 
. and now he's using his platform to spread awareness about gambling addiction... it's like he's giving back in every sense 
! And it wasn't even just the financial part... he talks about how it messed with his sleep too 
. But what's really cool is that he's using this as an opportunity to spread awareness and help others who might be going through similar struggles 
Boutte's message of hope & compassion is exactly what we need rn
i mean ive heard of people getting addicted to video games or something but betting? thats just crazy 
anyway i feel bad for him 'cause gambling can be crazy and it sounds like he was really struggling financially and emotionally. but now he's doing okay and using his platform to help others, so that's cool