FOXBOROUGH, Mass - The New England Patriots have had a lot of legendary players come through the doors of Gillette Stadium.
And the newest addition to the team is all to familiar with one of the greats, referring to Patriots Hall-of-Famer Willie McGinest as his uncle.
Alex Austin, who signed with the Patriots 53-man roster on Thursday, always dreamed of playing for the Patriots, having watched and heard all about them as he was growing up. And now that dream has become a reality.
"It's a blessing. Great franchise to be in," the rookie cornerback said. "I know a lot about the Patriots. My uncle, Willie McGinest, actually was a Super Bowl winner here with the Patriots, three-time champ. So to be able to have that in my family and be able to be here in New England, it's a blessing. I'm happy."
And according to Austin, there was no one better to learn from than McGinest, noticing one main thing from his play style.
“Baller," Austin said. "And it’s crazy because I was so much younger back then watching him play and now I’m in the NFL and seeing the accolades he had and things he did. He was a great, big-time Hall of Famer, for real.”
While Austin and McGinest aren't related by blood, the three-time Super Bowl champion calls the young cornerback his "nephew."
“Growing up, just knowing I had him in my corner, somebody who did everything I’m trying to do and achieve," Austin explained. "So just taking those little coaching points from him as in just how to be a pro on a day-to-day basis even when I wasn’t a pro. Or how to eat right, do the right times, treat people with respect. So I for sure took a lot of things from him growing up and it made me into a better player today.”
So when Austin received the call on Wednesday that he was headed to New England, his first call was to his uncle. And McGinest couldn't contain his excitement.
" I called my uncle first like, 'Hey Unc, I'm about to be a Patriots, man. I'm trying to learn the Patriot way," Austin said. "He was like, 'Let's go!' He was happy for me, cheering me on. So it feels good, feels great."
And he also planned to call McGinest following his first practice and will get his advice prior to his first time suiting up for the Patriots
Stepping foot into the Patriots locker room on Thursday was a moment Austin will never forget, knowing that his uncle stood in the same room for so many years and accomplished so much on the same field he is now playing on.
“Having a family member who played in this locker room and won big time games here and made some big time accolades, it’s such a blessing to be able to be in the same locker room as him and try to get those same wins and Super Bowls and accolades,” he said.
And when asked if he thinks he can do just that, Austin’s answer was clear: “For sure.”
Having grown up in Long Beach, California, Austin's relationship with McGinest isn't his only connection to the Patriots.
Jack Jones and JuJu Smith-Schuster are also from Long Beach, with Austin describing those guys as his "big bros." And this is also not his first time playing alongside Jones.
“Me and Jack actually played Pop Warner, same Pop Warner team and then same high school. So now we’re on the same NFL team.”
So one thing is for sure as Austin begins his time with the New England Patriots: He will never forget his time in Foxborough.
"It’s all surreal for me, just like for me to be here in this locker room right now after just growing up knowing everything about the Patriots, it’s all surreal,” Austin said. “I’m just taking it all in.”
More must-reads: