The New England Patriots are set to face off against the Denver Broncos for the AFC Championship and the opportunity to advance to Super Bowl 60 in two weeks.
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye has won by spreading the ball around. One of his many targets is receiver Pop Douglas, and fans wonder how he got that nickname.
How Did Patriot WR Pop Douglas Get His Nickname?
Douglas’s real first name is DeMario, but he has been known by “Pop” for most of his life. Some fans think it has something to do with his on-field talents, but the reality is the nickname was given in honor of his grandfather, who was called “Poppa.”
According to The Sporting News, “His grandfather, who was called ‘Poppa,’ passed away on Douglas’s first birthday. The wide receiver was often called ‘Poppa’ by his family, a nickname that was soon shortened to ‘Pop.'”
This is Douglas’s third season in the NFL after spending four years at Liberty University. He spent his first season with the Flames redshirted, but in 2020, he became their key kickoff returner.
In 2020 and 2021, he played with 2022 third-round draft pick Malik Willis, now with the Green Bay Packers. In 2021, he started in six out of 12 games and had 52 catches for 701 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns. Douglas was the Flames’ leading receiver.
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That trend continued into 2022 despite Willis having left for the NFL. That season he had 79 catches for 993 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown.
While Douglas is on the smaller side for an NFL receiver at 5’8″ and 192 lbs, he plays with a lot of heart. When he entered the 2023 NFL Draft, he was praised for his speed, 4.44-second 40-yard dash, and his slipperiness.
While he was often able to evade defenders, there were concerns about his consistency in route-running and ball-handling. The Patriots took a chance on him, selecting him in the sixth round.
According to PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, Douglas has a grade of C+, with a score of 79.3. That ranks him 25th among all receivers in the league for 2025. So far this season has has 31 receptions for 441 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Fellow Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs ranked fourth in the league with a grade of B+.
Pairing those talented weapons with PFSN’s second-ranked quarterback in Maye gives the Patriots a huge boost. However, they will face the Broncos, who rank first in PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric.
The Patriots are hoping to return to the glory days of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and Douglas has a shot at helping them get there.
