HOUSTON – Brandon LaFell's roots begin in the Bayou City. He graduated from Lamar High School -- that is where he met the woman who would become his wife.
"You know, junior year we started talking," said Kristen LaFell, Brandon's wife. "Then pretty much we just started dating at the end of junior year."
Brandon spent a handful of years with the Carolina Panthers before moving to New England. His ability to stay in the league may have something to do with how much extra work he puts in.
"He'll call Tom Brady or they'll text each other back and forth. They'll throw balls or go over stuff after everything's over," she said.
During the off-season, Brandon makes sure he gets back to Lamar to give a few words of advice to the kids there.
"His thing is 'You know what? It doesn't matter. You set your mind to what it is you want to do and just do it.' And I think that's his biggest reason for going back," said Kristen.
In his first year in New England, LaFell has a chance to win a Super Bowl. But more important to him is representing the city of Houston.
"We grew up here. Everyone's here," she said. "I think he looks at it as 'I've got to get here and I've got to show out. We've got to win.'"