“She really pushes me, so I won’t stop until I can get her to stop working,” DeMario Douglas once said about his mom. It is clear that his mother is his biggest inspiration. Allegedly, since he caught interest in football at just 5 years old, his mom, Angelika Mack, continued to encourage him to achieve his athletic goals.  Clearly, with his mom’s constant support, he excelled in his football career. Initially, he gained the limelight at Mandarin High School during his Class 8A Florida state championship game in his senior year. Then, he became the talk of college football, excelling at Liberty Flames College as a redshirt junior, securing six touchdowns with 79 passes for 993 yards.

Later, he made his way into the NFL as the New England Patriots’ 210 pick in 2023. Even during his rookie year, he astonished everyone with his impressive stats, finishing the season with 49 receptions for 561 yards. When he got this opportunity, he appreciated his mom’s efforts and dedication to his NFL success. However, there is little information available about his father other than his name. But, throughout his journey, his mom has been his biggest supporter.

Reportedly, Angenika Mack became pregnant with DeMario at the age of 16 during her sophomore year in high school. At that time, she had no idea about parenthood, as she was also a teenager. Unfortunately, DeMario’s father, Mario, was not interested in the matter.

This made things more difficult for Angenika, but she dealt with the situation. And, with the support of DeMario’s grandmother, Yolanda, Angenika gave birth to DeMario on December 8, 2000, during her junior year. “I’m not advocating for teen pregnancy at all, but it was my drive to do the right thing, to do well, and to want more,” Angenika once revealed about her experience with teen pregnancy.

After becoming a mom, Angenika continued her education and, within a year, graduated from high school. She later worked in the mortgage industry to provide for her son’s basic needs. Despite the challenges of being a single mother, she beautifully balanced her job with raising DeMario. She even nurtured his football passion from a young age, recognizing his love for the sport when he was just 5 years old.

Angenika often praises young DeMario’s enthusiasm and punctuality when it comes to practicing football. “I would never have to remind him about practice. He was never that child. He was always ready to be there. It’s just in him,” she shared.

Clearly, football became a high priority for her son, and fulfilling his dreams became Angenika’s main focus. To better support DeMario’s goals, she decided to quit her corporate job and start her own custom children’s clothing business. She worked late into the night to make ends meet, earning the nickname “Miss Make It Happen” for her dedication and tireless efforts.

Angenika is also the mother of two younger sons and has four half-siblings on Mario’s side. Despite being a single mother, she never fails to support all her children’s aspirations.

DeMario’s loving bond with his mother and grandmother

Allegedly,  DeMario’s mom, and his grandmom Yolanda, who served as clerk at the St. John’s County Courts, have been cheering for DeMario since his high school days, and have never missed a single game of his. They traveled across the state to watch him play live, showcasing their unwavering support for his football dreams.

DeMario never fails to honor his mother for providing a strong work ethic that he and his siblings have built over time. “I get a lot of my work ethic from my mom. I’ve seen her do the impossible. The times we didn’t have it, she made it happen,” he remarked.

Not only this, when he was drafted in 2023, he once again expressed his gratitude toward his mom. “My mom really helped me out – ‘manifest it, say it’s going to happen, and it really will.’ She did a great job of helping me do that,” he said.

Moreover, adding to this, DeMario shared a heartwarming reason behind choosing the No. 3 for his jersey. Back in May, on Mother’s Day, the Patriots’ official Facebook account revealed the touching reason. “DeMario Douglas wishing Happy Mother’s Day to the three strong ladies who raised him: his mom, his grandma, and his great-grandma. They are the reason he switched his jersey number to 3,” the caption of the post read.

“I always had number three. Little league, middle school—I had it in high school, and my first high school. Then, in my second high school, I went to one, but then I had it in college. The number three is big for me because I was raised by three strong ladies—my mom, my grandma, and my great-grandma—so that carries a lot of weight,” the Patriots’ wide receiver stated. Hence, he has thoughtfully chosen the number for his jersey, mirroring the milestones of his life.