FOXBOROUGH, Mass — By the time the clock strikes 6 a.m., Efton Chism is already arriving at Gillette Stadium, ready to get to work.
“Nobody’s going to work harder than Chism,” Vrabel said. “I mean, Chism is literally in (wide receivers coach) Todd Downing’s office before 6 o’clock every morning, if not 5:30, getting the game plan down to know every position. He’s an extremely hard worker with his toughness, his routine. It’s really cool to see guys like that take advantage of their opportunities. Obviously, stepping up in a critical situation is what this league is about.”
But for Chism, this is just the norm. He arrives at the same time every single day, prepared to work and get better. And the reason for that is simple: he wants to.
"I don’t
even consider it a job," Chism told Patriots Wire in an exclusive conversation. "It’s like I’m at recess. Like this is a playground. I get to come out here and have so much fun every day. Like, meetings to me are fun. I love practice. I love being here."
Chism immediately endeared himself to Patriots fans from the moment he arrived. The wide receiver had a stellar career at Eastern Washington, where he recorded an FCS-record 53 straight games with a catch. And then, he went on to run a 4.71-second 40-yard dash before the draft.
But as all seven rounds of the 2025 draft went by, Chism remained unclaimed. That is, until the Patriots gave him $252,500 in guaranteed money, which is the second-highest amount the franchise had ever given to an undrafted player. And for Eastern Washington head coach Aaron Best, he knew how lucky New England was to land such an incredible player.
"It’s self-made. That’s what it is to me," Best said. "He’s not as tall as everybody. He’s not as fast as everybody. He’s not as twitchy as everybody. The things he can control, he controls very well, and he knows those are his edges."
Chism became a quick training-camp fan favorite and fought throughout the summer to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. And during his rookie season, he finished with three catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. But he was also inactive for nine games because of the number of receivers on the roster.
“I think any opportunity is an opportunity," Chism said. "And I know every day of the week, I got to prepare to be ready to go for, not just Sunday, but for Monday through Saturday, and then ultimately to success on Sunday. I’m still just excited to be out there and playing ball. That’s the best thing in the world.”
He certainly proved that with his performance in the team's win over the Buffalo Bills, especially during the final frame when his name was called. The team lost Mack Hollins to a calf injury, leaving them thin at the position. So, they turned to Chism, who had to fill in on some of the plays that would have likely involved Hollins.
And he delivered in every possible way, making a highlight-reel one-handed touchdown catch that provided the Patriots with the win. For fans, the play came as somewhat of a surprise since Chism's time on the field has been limited. However, for his coaches and teammates, it was completely expected.
"Yeah, it’s been awesome. Seeing Chiz just come in and be the same guy. You hear about obviously what he did in college and all the records," quarterback Drake Maye said. "I think from day one, you can tell a guy, from my experience, a receiver that, ‘Man, he’s got a chance to make some plays.’ And you saw that with Chiz, and you saw it 1-on-1s. You see it; he’s fearless."
Wide reciver Kyle Williams, who entered the league the same year as Chism, shared similar sentiments.
“He’s a hell of a worker," Williams told Patriots Wire. "Obviously, consistent. From what you saw Sunday, it’s been something that’s been here since me and him both got here. He’s been that same way. I’m pretty sure he was the same way at Eastern Washington. So it’s the consistency from him through the unknown and everything; I think that’s the greatest thing about him.”
“It’s amazing because those are the type of plays you want to see those types of people make," Williams added of Chism's 23-yard touchdown catch. "I mean, that’s something, those catches I’ve seen him make over and over and over, especially in practice. So those are routine, but for him to put it all together on Sunday, for me, for a guy that came in with me and that’s my guy. I’m beyond happy.”
As for Best, he preached that, as a coach, he prefers players to catch the ball with two hands, wanting to make sure it's secure rather than having it be a SportsCenter Top 10 play. But, with Chism's grab, it happened naturally, and he was able to make it look so effortless because of the practice he puts in.
"Like I see guys out here try to make fake catches with one hand. They try to do it," Best said. "They go out of their way to try to make that up, even on air… Two is better than one, but sometimes if you only have the one, can it act as if it’s two? I mean, he’s taken jugs many years with one-hand catches, not to be a highlight reel, but in the event he’s got his other arm not able to make catches. He’s done the work to give him an opportunity to make that catch, and he’s got strong hands.”
And for all the talk about Chism's preparation, there's another side to the wide receiver that helps explain why he has continued to make the most of his opportunities.
"He doesn’t want to be in the spotlight, but he wants to make the plays when the spotlight’s on," Best added. "That’s just the way he is as a person, as a fiancé, as a son, and as a friend of mine. He’s not going to change 10 years from now. That’s not so much true with a lot of people you run into that find themselves in fame or status or situations that elevate them in the public eye. And he’s the same. Going to be the same goofy kid."
But even with his work ethic and confidence, Chism wasn't immune to the growing pains that come with developing as a player. During his time at Eastern Washington, he struggled with the operational approach on the punt team, which is something Best remembers well.
"You could see smoke coming out of his ears sometimes because he would have to study," he recalled. "And I looked at him, and I said, 'it’s pretty good to know that you’re human.'"
The moment offered a reminder that even a player as committed to his craft as Chism has areas to improve. What matters is how he responds — and his approach to getting better has remained a constant throughout his career.
Chism's work ethic was repeatedly highlighted every single time a member of the team was asked about the wide receiver. They all pointed to different stories or circumstances in which he showed it, but they were also sure to highlight that it was just one of many.
“It wouldn’t be right for me to sit up here and not talk about his work ethic and his character," offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. "Since the moment we got him, he has been at the highest level. It’s hard to say that an undrafted college free agent would be a pros pro, but I will tell you that’s what he is. He came in with that kind of demeanor, that kind of attitude.
"He understands that I’m going to be ready when my time is up, and he was and has been since he’s been here."
But, it wouldn't truly be a story about Chism without bringing up a very important player on the team who is often seen standing right next to the young receiver.
That's Mack Hollins.
The two have become fast friends, with McDaniels further highlighting how Hollins serves as a "great mentor in that room."
"Those two, I know there’s a lot of talk about those two being kind of close, and it’s true," the offensive coordinator continued. "But when we finish our Saturday night meetings, there are two guys that sit at the table and go back through the entire call sheet and the game plan together. And it’s like, there’s no wonder that they’re ready to go."
This is something that Hollins has been doing throughout his entire career.
"It started because that’s what he’s always done his whole career, and for me, just learning stuff from him and the way he prepares. I was like, why not do it as well?" Chism explained. "So we started last year, and it’s helped me so much because any other questions that you got the night before, you can get it ironed out right then and there.”
Chism is the first player in the building and often the last one out. It goes back to what he did at Eastern Washington and has continued into the NFL.
“I feel like if I can get here earlier and get a jump start on things and make sure that I’m prepared for practice, I’m going to have a better practice," Chism said. "And when you execute during practice, it gives you more confidence and more willingness, ready to go and be ready on Sunday."
So, has anyone ever beaten Chism to the facility on any given day?
"They may try, but nobody has," wide receiver coach Todd Downing said. “His work ethic is unmatched. He is truly so hungry to improve. And what’s been impressive to me is that he hasn’t changed from when he was inactive to being active and now having a bigger role. It stayed the same, and he stayed the same person regardless of the circumstances around him."
Best further joked that Chism is "probably pissed because he’s second in the building, to be honest with you."
"Everybody talks about being locked in, and everybody talks about maximizing the day. He walks it more than he talks it," he added. "He’s such a humble guy that plays so loud, but he’s not a loud person… It was that way when he was here. Whether it’s a walkthrough or a stretch session, he wanted to be first in, last out, and it was authentic. It wasn’t artificial. It was authentic."
Best jokingly tried to instill one key lesson in Chism during his time at Eastern Washington: "you need more enemies."
"You got too many friends, too many people like you. It’s good to be not liked by everybody," Best said. "So he’d give me that smirk that he often gives you… I tried to be a bad influence on him while he was here at Eastern. He’s everything and then some, and so it’s easy to speak about him in those ways.”
Plus, Best gave Chism the ultimate compliment that truly speaks to his character.
"I mean, not every player that I’ve coached, whether it’s an O-line coach or head coach, I would have wanted to marry one of my daughters," the Eastern Michigan coach explained. "Like, definitely not everyone. There’s a select few. He’s one of those guys. That’s who he is. That’s the biggest standing ovation I can give a student-athlete while they’re here. I got two daughters, and if they were to say Efton Chism is going to be my husband, I’m standing up and applauding. Like that is the biggest payment of respect I can give because that has nothing to do with football. It has everything to do with their body of work outside of football."
For Chism, the goal has never been to make headlines or become a fan favorite. It's about showing up, putting in the work and being ready when his number is called. And if there's one thing everyone around him agrees on, it's that he's not going to change anytime soon. After all, the player who arrived at Eastern Washington determined to make the most of his opportunity is the same one walking through the doors at Gillette Stadium before sunrise.
Only now, the entire NFL is starting to see what those closest to him have known all along.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots’ Efton Chism is first in, last out, and just getting started
