Patriots Star Opens Up About Gambling Addiction And Inspirational Recovery
Kayshon Boutte’s NFL career has been a dream come true. A sixth-round draft pick by the New England Patriots in 2023, he’s emerged as one of the team’s best receivers over the last two years, helping them win the AFC East and make the postseason this year.
Boutte’s NFL career nearly ended before it began, however, due to his gambling addiction at LSU. He recently opened up about his personal struggles in a candid article for “The Players’ Tribune” titled “How The Hell Did I Get Here???”
“I was 20. I was at LSU. Full ride. Whole future ahead of me. And I didn’t care at all,” Boutte writes. “I’d wake up early in the morning, and the first thing I’d do was bet. I’d stay up late and bet. All day. All night. I had insomnia, so if I woke up in the middle of the night, phone next to the bed, I’d bet. Any little money I had, it was going straight to FanDuel.”
Boutte said he knew he was addicted and “damn near ruined my life,” but he couldn’t stop. At one point, he lost $90,000.
He got hurt during his sophomore year, and he had too much time on his hands. He was depressed and missed competing on the field, so he got into gambling as a way to fill that void.
Fortunately, Boutte pulled out of it. He got healthy, allowing him to focus on football again. He also became a father during his junior year, which motivated him to take his mental health more seriously and turn things around.
The 23-year-old wideout hopes his story helps inspire other folks to do the same. Countless people, especially young men, have become addicted to gambling recently as many states have legalized sports betting over the last few years. Boutte’s emotional story proves it’s never too late to pull out of it and still achieve your dreams.