Before the New England Patriots flew off to San Francisco last week for a game against the 49ers, their rookie tight end, Jaheim Bell, took time to visit the students at Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy’s Columbia Campus in Dorchester.  

On Tuesday (Sept. 24), the Florida native spent the morning visiting classrooms, answering questions, and handing out signed apparel before joining the seventh and eighth graders at lunch. 

 “I feel like it›s very important to be here because when I was in their shoes, I never had the opportunity to meet an NFL player or even a college player. It was difficult for me growing up because I wanted to see people who I wanted to be,” Bell told The Reporter, “Coming to talk to them and answer all the questions that they have, I think it’s motivational for them, which is very important.”

Bell’s visit was organized by Schanecqua Christmas, the family engagement liaison at the Columbia Campus. “This campus especially,” she said, “we have a lot of kids in the shelter, and they don’t get as much of an opportunity as other campuses to see different things,” she said. “I thought it would be a good chance to meet him. Hopefully this has a positive impact, and they know we do love and care about them and there are other people out there who graduated high school and finished with trials and tribulations.”

The 23-year-old Bell, who played three years at the University of South Carolina and one year at Florida State, has throughout his football career looked up to players like Cam Newton and Jalen Ramsey; now he gets to set the example for the next generation. 

“I want to be able to be a role model for them,’ he said. “I want to come back again and see them more comfortable and look at me as a brother.”
Christmas added that it is important to bring an accomplished young man into the school because “not everybody has a father or a positive role model.” 

Whether the students see Bell as a parent or sibling, he reminds them to work hard in all that they do because his journey to success wasn’t always easy, either. He mentions “a long road, there were a lot of ups and downs,” and adds, “you have to find a way to fight through that and that’s what I did.”

Admitting to the middle schoolers that he shed a few tears on draft day – he was the 231st overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The Patriots signed him to his first contract on May 10 – he said, “I told myself that I wasn’t going to cry, and I ended up crying once I got the phone call. I couldn’t even talk. When I heard my name called, I broke down in tears. It was great.”

Bell hopes to hear his name called again soon, but this time by his coach on game day.

“I haven’t gotten many reps in the games, but I have been getting reps in practice and I take those very seriously because I know once my name is called or my number [88] is called, that spotlight is going to be on me and I need to be able to play in that situation.

I’ve been doing it since I was in high school. I showed that I could do it in college, and now the next thing is showing that I can do it in the NFL. Whenever that time is, it’s going to be great.”

In the meantime, the 6-foot-2, 241-pound offensive end player plans to stay involved in the community. “The next thing for me,” he told the students, “is trying to get out to another school, getting in front of kids. I know it means a lot to them because it would have meant a lot to me when I was younger.”

Later in the day, a group of seventh graders confirmed just how much the visit meant to them. 

“It’s very inspirational that he came to our school,” said Jessen. “He’s a really nice, caring man.”

Added Adrian: “It was a very inspirational day meeting a famous NFL player. He was really nice. I got a signed hat, and I threw a ball to him.” The visit ended with a game of pass and catch right off Columbia Road in the school parking lot.

“It was very amazing, I think this was an excellent day,” said Cam. “Thank you to Mrs. Christmas. She is my favorite teacher. I really love Mrs. Christmas.”