Brandon Bolden
A durable NFL running back and special teams ace whose selfless, team-first approach made him a valued contributor on two Super Bowl-winning squads.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American football player·Birthday: January 26·Millennials
Biography
Brandon Bolden's NFL story is a testament to persistence and embracing a role. Undrafted out of Ole Miss, where he was a powerful, productive runner, he signed with the New England Patriots and immediately understood the assignment: contribute wherever needed. While he had moments carrying the ball, his true legacy was forged on kick and punt coverage units, where his speed, toughness, and intelligence made him a core special teams player for a dynasty. Bolden's value to the Patriots was so clear that his single season with the Miami Dolphins in 2018 felt like an anomaly; he was back in New England the following year, resuming his crucial duties. His willingness to do the hard, often unnoticed work earned him the respect of coaches and teammates, culminating in Super Bowl rings with the Patriots in the 2016 and 2018 seasons. He finished his career with the Las Vegas Raiders, leaving the game as the prototype of a modern special teams standout.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Brandon was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brandon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Brandon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Super Bowl XLIX and Super Bowl LIII as a key special teams contributor for the New England Patriots.
- Played 11 NFL seasons despite entering the league as an undrafted free agent.
- Scored a 29-yard rushing touchdown in his first career NFL playoff game in 2013.
Did You Know?
He was a track and field standout in high school, competing in the 100-meter dash and long jump.
Bolden and Patriots quarterback Mac Jones were teammates at the University of Alabama for a brief period in 2018.
He served as a team captain for the New England Patriots during the 2021 season.
“My job is to help this team win, on the field and in the room.”
