Zac Efron made a rare public appearance on January 18 when he attended the New England Patriots’ game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The 38-year-old actor took in the NFL matchup and stepped onto the field before kickoff, posing for a photo with Patriots owner and CEO Robert Kraft. The New England Patriots later acknowledged Efron’s visit in an Instagram post, welcoming him and sharing an image from the stadium.
During the brief on-field moment, Efron was seen wearing one of Kraft’s NFL championship rings, slipping it onto his middle finger as he smiled for the camera.
He dressed in the team’s signature colors, sporting a navy blue puffer jacket with red zippers, layered over a dark hoodie, and paired with a matching beanie to stay warm in the winter conditions. The caption of the post read, “Hey @zacefron👋”
The appearance marked Efron’s first public outing since November, when he attended Dancing With the Stars to support his younger brother, Dylan Efron, who competed on the ABC series alongside professional partner Daniella Karagach.
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The Patriots hosted the Texans as part of the NFL’s regular-season schedule, with a packed crowd at Gillette Stadium for the January 18 matchup. Efron’s presence added a high-profile touch to the game-day atmosphere, generating buzz both inside the stadium and online after the team shared its social media post.
Patriots Beat Texans 28–16 In Divisional Playoff Game
The New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28–16 on January 18 at Gillette Stadium in the AFC divisional playoff round. The Patriots relied on defense and timely scoring to secure the win in a turnover-filled contest.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions, including a 26-yard pick-six by Marcus Jones. Meanwhile, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had four fumbles, but New England recovered two of them.
The Patriots took a 21–10 lead into halftime. Pop Douglas scored on a 28-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. Marcus Jones followed with a defensive touchdown, and Stefon Diggs added a receiving score before the break.
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Houston closed the gap with field goals in the second half, but New England responded early in the fourth quarter. Maye connected with Kayshon Boutte for a 32-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 28–16.
The Patriots’ defense sealed the game by forcing multiple punts and stopping Houston on a final fourth-down attempt.
