At a Glance
- Zac Efron stepped out Jan. 18 for his first public sighting since November
- The actor cheered the New England Patriots against Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium
- He posed with team CEO Robert Kraft, flashing one of Kraft’s NFL championship rings
- His appearance follows a viral moment on Dancing With the Stars supporting brother Dylan
- Why it matters: Fans rarely see the private star, making each sighting instant social-media gold
Zac Efron is back in the spotlight. After weeks out of view, the High School Musical alum surfaced at Gillette Stadium to watch the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans, marking his first public outing since cheering on his younger brother in the Dancing With the Stars ballroom.
Rare Public Outing at Gillette Stadium
Efron, 38, arrived dressed in Patriots navy, sporting a puffer coat with red-zip accents, a dark hoodie, and a matching beanie. On the field he met Robert Kraft, 84, the team’s CEO. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) the pair smiled while Efron slipped one of Kraft’s NFL championship rings onto his middle finger for the photo.
The Jan. 18 game gave fans a fresh glimpse of the actor, who had last been photographed publicly in November during DWTS‘s live show. On that night he sat in the audience to support Dylan Efron, 33, who is competing with pro partner Daniella Karagach.
Viral Reaction in the Ballroom
Cameras caught Zac’s real-time response when Dylan earned 27 out of 30 points for his routine. Viewers quickly clipped the moment, interpreting his quizzical expression as confusion about whether the score was strong. The clip raced across social media within minutes of the broadcast.
Dylan later told Ryan J. Thompson that his brother’s reaction was misunderstood.
> “It meant everything. I grew up watching him do stuff like this, so the fact that he’s now watching me do this is crazy to me,” Dylan said on the night of the taping.
He expanded on the viral moment during a December appearance on Sirius XM’s Radio Andy show Smith Sisters Live.
> “I can’t remember what he was saying, but I think he said that he thought it was a really good dance. So he is like, ‘Is that the highest score they would give?'” Dylan recalled.
> “But it was funny regardless because Zac got defensive. He was like, ‘No, they misinterpreted what I meant!'”
From Stage to Stadium
The Patriots game marks Efron’s second high-profile appearance in three months, each tied to family support. While he keeps a low profile, his choice to attend marquee events-first a live dance show, now an NFL playoff matchup-keeps fan interest piqued.
News Of Fort Worth noted that photographs from the stadium show Efron relaxed, smiling with Kraft and soaking in the playoff atmosphere as New England battled Houston.
Key Takeaways
- Jan. 18, 2025: Zac Efron attends Patriots-Texans game, first public sighting since November
- Shared field-side photo with Patriots CEO Robert Kraft, wearing Kraft’s championship ring
- Previous appearance at Dancing With the Stars created viral reaction clip
- Brother Dylan says Zac fully supported the performance and was impressed by the score
- Star keeps rare public schedule, making each outing headline news
