Drake Maye Opens Up on Shoulder Injury, Super Bowl Loss, and What’s Next for the Patriots
Drake Maye didn’t shy away from the questions. Just days after the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss, the rookie quarterback met with the media for his final press conference of the season and confirmed what many had suspected: he was dealing with a shoulder injury during the biggest game of his young career. But Maye made it clear - the injury wasn’t an excuse, and it won’t require surgery.
Let’s break down what we learned.
The Injury: When It Happened and How He Played Through It
Maye revealed that the injury to his throwing shoulder occurred during the third quarter of the AFC Championship Game against the Broncos. He described it as the result of an awkward tackle - one of those freak plays that happen in the trenches of playoff football.
Despite the setback, Maye pushed through. He was limited in practice the following week and even missed a Friday session due to both the shoulder issue and an illness. But once the team touched down in California for the Super Bowl, he was back to full participation.
Before kickoff, Maye received a pain-tolerance injection. The shoulder was numb, he said, so he wasn’t feeling much - physically, at least. Mentally, he was locked in and ready to go.
“I think it’s the case of having one hit in the AFC Championship Game that was just kind of unfortunate, unfortunate timing,” Maye said. “The two weeks were great to have off to have a chance to be out there and be out there for my guys.”
That’s the kind of quote that tells you everything you need to know about Maye’s mindset. No excuses.
No finger-pointing. Just a young quarterback owning the moment, even in defeat.
“You can’t blame things on injuries,” he added. “Things like this happen all the time in the league.
I was blessed this year. What a year of health and blessings for me this year.
You can’t throw it on one little thing on the shoulder.”
Maye emphasized that he still felt like himself on the field and believed he was able to make the throws he needed to. There was no sense of regret in his tone, just a clear-eyed reflection on a tough ending to a breakout season.
No Surgery Needed - Just Rest
The good news for Patriots fans? Maye won’t need surgery. No cleanup, no procedure - just time.
“Time is the best healer,” he said. “Definitely just need time off.
Nothing that needs anything to be done. Just need some time away, time to get some rest and time away from football.”
That’s a huge relief for New England, considering the trajectory Maye was on all season. He looked every bit the franchise quarterback the Patriots hoped for when they drafted him, and now he’ll head into the offseason focused on recovery and growth - not rehab.
Looking Ahead: The Patriots Know the Target Is on Their Back
Maye’s rookie campaign was a revelation, and the Patriots’ rapid ascent - winning the division and the AFC - turned heads across the league. But with success comes new challenges, and Maye knows the rest of the NFL will be gunning for them in 2026.
“You’ve got to elevate,” he said. “Teams are going to be looking at what we did, how you improved so quickly, how we won the division, we won the AFC and a lot of the great things. So teams are going to have a bullseye on us to try and stop us.”
He’s not wrong. The Patriots went from rebuilding to reloading in the span of a season.
Now comes the hard part: staying on top. Maye spoke like a player who understands that complacency is the enemy, and the grind doesn’t stop just because the season did.
“We’ve got to try to not be complacent and know that teams are going to be chasing us,” he said. “And we’ve got to chase the Seahawks.”
Offseason Plans: Football Can Wait, Family Comes First
Before jumping into film rooms and offseason workouts, Maye is taking some well-earned time to reset - and this year, he’s got someone new to share it with.
“This offseason, I’ve got a wife now,” he said, smiling. “I’ve got a beautiful wife, so I don’t know.
I look forward to spending this offseason with my wife. That’s going to be the highlight of my offseason, I can tell you that.”
It’s a reminder that even in the high-stakes world of pro football, players are human too. Maye’s got big goals for next season, but for now, he’s taking a moment to breathe, reflect, and enjoy life off the field.
Final Thoughts
Drake Maye’s rookie season may not have ended with a Lombardi Trophy, but it ended with something arguably more important: the league-wide recognition that the Patriots have their guy. He played through pain, led his team to the Super Bowl, and showed the kind of accountability and leadership that’s rare - especially for a first-year quarterback.
The shoulder will heal. The sting of the loss will fade.
But the foundation Maye laid this year? That’s built to last.