How weekly dinners and Shirley Temples transformed the Patriots offensive line

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How weekly dinners and Shirley Temples transformed the Patriots offensive line

Mark Daniels · MassLive

Thu, Feb 5, 2026 ·

6 min read

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. – An estimated 50-60 Shirley Temples were ordered by Patriots offensive linemen on Wednesday night, but that was only part of the story.

Rookie Marcus Bryant ordered a tomahawk steak that cost over $200 with an appetizer. There was so much food, he took some back to the team hotel later that evening. For Jared Wilson , it was the 8-ounce New York wagyu cut and a side of white cheddar lobster mac and cheese. That combination ran the bill up more than $225.

Will Campbell estimates he asked for every appetizer on the menu. He ordered three Shirley Temples at a time. Of course, on this night, the prices didn’t matter.

After all, the rookies weren’t paying.

“We eat a lot. A lot,” Campbell said. “Get me every appetizer times four. Especially when you don’t have to pay.”

Throughout the 2025 NFL season, the Patriots’ offensive linemen got together every Thursday for a weekly dinner. This week, in California, the linemen got together for one last team feast with a special twist.

On Wednesday night, the group visited Mastro’s Steakhouse, an upscale dining establishment in San Francisco, featuring white tablecloths and soaring ceilings. The group had a private room, which was a good thing because on this night, they decided to put their rookies through some hazing.

Depending on who you asked, the reviews were mixed.

The Patriots’ veterans, Morgan Moses , Garrett Bradbury and Michael Onwenu , have constantly reminded the group’s rookies that even if they started, they were still rookies. Aside from the good-natured ribbing, the first-year players got off easy.

That’s why on Wednesday night, they were forced to stand up at the dinner table, inside a fine-dining establishment, and recite their school’s fight song. Moses came up with the idea.

“Once you become a starter, you get a little big-headed,” Onwenu cracked. “We remind them to make sure they know they’re rookies and to know your place.”

Bryant got rave reviews for reciting SMU’s fight song but forgot Missouri’s. That’s where he transferred to for his final college season. Mehki Butler, who’s on the practice squad, also earned praise for his rendition of the Arkansas State anthem.

However, when it came to starters Campbell and Wilson, the reviews weren’t great. Neither could remember the song. Wilson, the team’s starting left guard, instead, belted out a chant for North Carolina athletics.

Considering Campbell grew up in Louisiana and was an LSU fan, teammates were shocked when he said he didn’t know the fight song. (He claims it had changed.)

“I’ve got a bone to pick with Will,” Bradbury said. “Will was a little too cool for school. I need these schools to get on them. Will didn’t know LSU’s. I’m like, ‘You grew up a diehard LSU fan, you go there, how do you not know the fight song?’ Same with Jared. But Mehki and Marcus came through.”

This Wednesday night scene reflects the bond between the Patriots’ offensive line. This season, the group grew extremely close. These weekly dinners played a big part in that.

Every week, a different player picked up the check. The conversations were rarely about football. These moments were about professional athletes decompressing and learning more about one another.

“It helped us build camaraderie and build upon the chemistry we had together,” tackle Vederian Lowe said. “This being the first year this group of guys had come together, and with it being a mix of older veterans and young rookies, it really helped us mesh really well. I think that’s helped us when the games get tough, and things aren’t going great, it’s helped us lean on one another. Knowing the guy next to you really helped.”

For many of them, it was their first time in Massachusetts. This also gave them a chance to check out the city and different areas. The group always stayed local. They went to restaurants such as Kosmos in Walpole, Karma in Wellesley, the Capitol Grill in Dedham, and Grill 23 in Boston.

In Week 3, they went to Topgolf in Canton to both play and eat.

This idea was started by Bradbury and Moses. This offseason, the Patriots completely revamped their offensive line. The only returning starter from 2024 was Onwenu. The veterans wanted to bond and figured this was the best way to do it.

“It’s part of this whole process, Bradbury said. “It just builds relationships. You spend so much time in the building together, but when you get away, it’s let’s just hang out, be dudes. I’ve loved it.”

“We’re in a relaxed state, so we’re not thinking about football,” Moses added. “We’re thinking about getting together, food, and laughing. We’re telling jokes. I think that takes the pressure off us a little bit and relaxes and lets us be humans a little more than usual.”

It also brought the group something to look forward to that wasn’t about football.

This season, which culminates in Super Bowl 60, has been grueling for the team. Every week, players work hard to recover, practice, and play again on Sunday. The weekly dinner gave them an outlet to let loose.

“I think it really helped us decompress,” Onwenu said. “That was something to look forward to. You get past Wednesday. You get past Thursday, a hard practice, and then something like a little reward in the middle of the week just for us. It was fun the whole year. I’m really glad we did that.”

It also started the tradition of the Shirley Temple.

Depending on who you asked, it started sometime after the first dinner. They think it began in Week 2 at Kosmos. Someone ordered the red non-alcoholic drink. Another noted how the bubbles with the red hue, thanks to the grenadine, looked appealing.

So another ordered one. And another. And another.

“I just saw sparkly little bubbles with some red at the bottom. I was like, ok, I’m going to need one of those, too,’” Lowe said. “The next thing you know, we grab seven. Everyone was like, ‘This is fire,’ so we grabbed another round. It was over from there.”

Every dinner became a tradition.

“Last night we probably had 50 Shirley temples,” Ben Brown said. “A staple of the o-line dinners.”

“We ordered three at a time,” Campbell added. “That’s how many people were at the table.”

When it was all over, the bill was extravagant. Players wouldn’t say who paid. It didn’t matter. That’s not what it was about.

Four days before Super Bowl 60, Patriots offensive linemen got together for one last team dinner. They ate well while they talked, laughed, and bonded. It’s nights like this that helped them grow close.

It’s only fitting they’ll end the season together in the championship.

“Man, it’s been great,” Bryant said. “Everybody keeps telling me it’s not like this on every team. I’m just glad to experience that for my first year.”

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