Drake Maye

Drake Maye Bio

Drake Lee Maye is an American professional football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, winning the Shaun Alexander Award and ACC Football Player of the Year in 2022 after leading the NCAA in total yards. Selected third overall by the Patriots in the 2024 NFL Draft, Maye earned Pro Bowl honors during his first two seasons and finished as the 2025 NFL MVP runner-up while leading New England to its first Super Bowl appearance since 2018.

Early Life and Background

Drake Lee Maye was born August 30, 2002, in Huntersville, North Carolina. He grew up as the youngest of four brothers, all of whom played football. Two of his brothers, Luke and Beau, played basketball at the University of North Carolina, with Luke hitting a buzzer-beater in the Elite Eight en route to winning the 2017 national championship. Another brother, Cole, was a pitcher on the Florida Gators baseball team that won the 2017 College World Series.

Maye attended William A. Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina, before transferring after his freshman year to Myers Park High School in Charlotte, where he played football and basketball. As a high school junior, he threw for a school-record 3,512 yards and 50 touchdowns and was named The Charlotte Observer’s 2019 male athlete of the year. Despite being unable to play his senior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was named an Under Armour All-American in 2020. Rated a four-star prospect, Maye originally committed to play for Alabama before flipping to North Carolina in March 2020. Maye grew up a fan of the Carolina Panthers and attended Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.

Path to American Football

Maye redshirted his freshman season at North Carolina in 2021, appearing in four games behind starter Sam Howell. When Howell left for the NFL in 2022, Maye was named the starting quarterback prior to the season. In the opening game against Florida A&M, he threw five touchdowns and became the first UNC quarterback to do so in his debut. Maye had four or more touchdowns in games against Appalachian State, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, and Wake Forest. He led the Tar Heels to appearances in the 2022 ACC Championship Game and Holiday Bowl and was named ACC Player of the Year after leading the NCAA in total offense with 5,019 yards, passing for school records of 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns while rushing for 698 yards and 7 touchdowns.

In the 2023 season, Maye threw for over 400 yards against Syracuse, Miami, and Campbell University. He was named second-team All-ACC after passing for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 449 yards and nine touchdowns. He declared for the 2024 NFL Draft following the season. Maye finished his UNC career fifth in passing yards (8,018) and fourth in passing touchdowns (63) in school history.

Drake Maye Career

New England Patriots Breakthrough (2024)

The New England Patriots selected Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the first Patriot since Drew Bledsoe in 1993 selected in the top five picks of the draft, and the third of a record-tying six quarterbacks taken in the first round. Maye signed a four-year, fully-guaranteed contract worth $36.64 million on May 28, 2024, and chose the number 10. Despite a strong preseason, Maye began the season as backup to veteran Jacoby Brissett.

Maye made his regular season debut in Week 3 against the New York Jets, entering in the fourth quarter and completing 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards while rushing for 12 yards. On October 8, 2024, after the Patriots fell to 1-4, Maye was named the starting quarterback. In his first start against the Houston Texans, Maye completed 20 of 33 passes for 243 yards with 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the 41-21 loss, also leading the team with 38 rushing yards. Maye became the first quarterback since at least 1950 to throw three touchdown passes and lead his team in rushing in his first start. In Week 8 against the Jets, he recorded a rushing touchdown before exiting with a concussion. Maye finished his rookie season throwing for 2,276 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In January 2025, Maye was selected to play in the 2025 Pro Bowl Games as a replacement for Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

New England Patriots Era (2025-Present)

The 2025 season began with changes in the Patriots coaching staff, including the hiring of new head coach Mike Vrabel and the return of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Vrabel cited the presence of Maye as being one of his reasons for taking the position. During the 2025 season, Maye was given the nickname “Drake Maye” as teammates started referring to him as Drake “Drake Maye” Maye, a moniker that came from a social media humor fanpage and became a popular meme.

In Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills, Maye completed 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards, including leading a 37-yard game-winning drive to allow a 52-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to win the game 23-20. In Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans, Maye set a franchise record in completion percentage in a regular-season game, completing 21 of 23 passes, a 91.3% completion percentage, overtaking Tom Brady’s 88.5%, while also throwing for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-13 victory. In Week 13 against the New York Giants, Maye completed 24 of 31 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns in the 33-15 victory and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Maye led the Patriots to their first playoff berth since 2021 in a Week 16 victory against the Baltimore Ravens, completing 31 of 44 passes for 380 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, including leading an 89-yard drive late in the fourth quarter to take the lead. This was the first 300-yard game of Maye’s career.

In the 42-10 win in Week 17 against the New York Jets, Maye completed 19 of 21 passes (90.4%) for 256 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, becoming the first NFL quarterback to complete over 90% of his passes while throwing 250 yards and five touchdowns in a game. Maye finished the 2025 season throwing 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He was named to the NFL All-Pro second team and selected for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games for the second time and for the first time on the initial ballot. He finished second in the voting for Most Valuable Player to Matthew Stafford, finishing with 361 points to Stafford’s 366. In the Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Chargers, Maye made his playoff debut, completing 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception while also leading the team in rushing with 66 yards in the 16-3 victory.

In the Divisional Round against the Houston Texans, Maye completed 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards with three touchdowns and one interception as the Patriots beat the Texans 28-16, marking the Patriots’ first win in the Divisional Round and their first AFC Championship appearance since 2018. In the AFC Championship against the Denver Broncos, Maye completed 10 of 21 passes for only 86 yards due to snowy conditions but rushed for 65 yards and one touchdown. With the 10-7 win, the Patriots advanced to Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks, their first Super Bowl appearance in seven seasons. Maye struggled in Super Bowl LX, where he completed 27 of 43 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions, was sacked six times, and lost a fumble as the Seahawks won 29-13.

Playing Style and Strengths

Maye combines elite athleticism with a strong arm and exceptional playmaking ability. His mobility allows him to extend plays and pick up yards on the ground while keeping his eyes downfield. He demonstrates excellent touch and anticipation, fitting balls into tight windows and delivering strikes to all levels of the field. Maye’s football IQ and pre-snap reads enable him to process defenses quickly, while his ability to make off-schedule throws sets him apart. His efficiency metrics in 2025, including a 91.3% completion rate against Tennessee and a 90.4% mark against the Jets with five touchdowns, showcased his capacity to dominate when operating within structure.

Notable Events and Milestones

Maye’s 2025 campaign produced several historic performances. His 91.3% completion rate against Tennessee broke Tom Brady’s franchise record. His Week 17 performance against the Jets, completing over 90% of passes with 250 yards and five touchdowns, marked the first time an NFL quarterback achieved that combination. His 103.1 passer rating led the NFL in 2025, and his 69.8% completion percentage also topped the league. Maye earned the Bert Bell Award as the league’s top player and FedEx Air Player of the Year. His playoff run included wins over the Chargers and Texans before reaching Super Bowl LX in just his second professional season.

Drake Maye Career Statistics

Maye has established himself as one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks through his first two seasons, accumulating impressive passing numbers and earning multiple accolades including two Pro Bowl selections and second-team All-Pro honors.

NFL Career Highlights

Through two seasons, Maye has completed 579 of 830 pass attempts (69.8%) for 6,670 yards with 46 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, posting a 103.1 passer rating. His 2025 season featured 4,394 passing yards and 31 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. Maye led the NFL in passer rating and completion percentage in 2025, earned second-team All-Pro honors, and finished as MVP runner-up. In three playoff games, he completed 43 of 71 passes for 543 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions while adding 131 rushing yards and one touchdown.

College Career Highlights

Maye finished his three-season UNC career with 8,018 passing yards and 63 touchdowns. His standout 2022 campaign featured school-record 4,321 passing yards and 38 touchdowns while rushing for 698 yards and 7 touchdowns, leading the NCAA in total offense with 5,019 yards. He earned ACC Player of the Year, the Shaun Alexander Award, and First-team All-ACC honors that season, followed by Second-team All-ACC recognition in 2023.

Family

Family Background and Football Lineage

Maye comes from a distinguished athletic family. His father, Mark Maye, played quarterback at North Carolina in the 1980s and briefly with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks. Drake grew up family friends with quarterback Mason Rudolph, as their fathers played together at UNC. Maye’s oldest brother, Luke, played basketball at UNC and won a national championship in 2017, notably hitting a buzzer-beater in the Elite Eight. Brother Beau also played basketball at UNC, while brother Cole was a pitcher on the Florida Gators baseball team that won the 2017 College World Series.

Personal Life

Maye married Ann Michael Hudson on June 22, 2025. The couple began dating in 2015 and announced their engagement in January 2025. Hudson and Maye also attended UNC together, where Hudson’s younger brother, Tad, backed up Maye as one of the backup quarterbacks on the Tar Heels in 2023. Maye is a Christian and has spoken publicly about his faith, saying he wants to use his platform to spread the Word and spread the Good News.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked Maye’s emergence as a franchise quarterback. After taking over as starter in Week 5, he quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s top young talents. His efficiency numbers, including leading the league in passer rating and completion percentage, validated the Patriots’ decision to build around him. Maye’sMVP runner-up finish demonstrated his rapid development and placed him among the league’s elite quarterbacks in just his second professional season.

The Patriots rewarded Maye’s progress by building the team around him, resulting in their first playoff appearance since 2021. Maye led New England to three playoff victories, including wins over the Chargers, Texans, and a dramatic AFC Championship victory over the Broncos in snowy conditions. The team advanced to Super Bowl LX against the Seahawks in what many viewed as the foundation for sustained success. Head coach Mike Vrabel cited Maye’s presence as a key reason for taking the coaching position, and the organization expressed confidence in Maye as the cornerstone of their future. With his elite tools, football IQ, and work ethic, Maye appears poised for continued success as the Patriots rebuild around their young quarterback.