Drake Maye’s journey from Chapel Hill to Foxborough is already shaping up to be one of the more compelling young quarterback stories in the NFL. And if you ask former North Carolina head coach Mack Brown, the signs of Maye’s maturity and leadership were evident long before he ever put on a Patriots jersey.
During a recent appearance on The Blue Print, Brown shared a behind-the-scenes moment from Maye’s college days that says a lot about the kind of player-and person-New England is building around.
According to Brown, Maye had every opportunity to chase a bigger NIL payday elsewhere after the 2022 season. With UNC’s offensive coordinator departing and other programs reportedly offering “four times more money” than what the Tar Heels could afford, Maye could’ve easily taken the bag and bounced. But that’s not what happened.
“Drake came in and said, ‘Coach, number one, I don’t want to leave. I love this place,’” Brown recalled.
“I said, ‘Well, we’ll pay you this much money.’ And I said, ‘It’s not near as much as you’re being offered.’
And he said, ‘I don’t care, thank you. But I want to win.’”
That mindset-prioritizing development and team success over a quick financial gain-speaks volumes about Maye’s long-term vision. But what really stood out was what he asked for next.
Brown said he asked Maye what he needed from the next offensive coordinator to help him take the next step. The answer? Footwork.
“He said, ‘I need somebody to help me with my feet. I’m kind of all over the place,’” Brown said.
“‘I need to get somebody that’s really fundamentally sound that will help keep me in the pocket because I drift. And if I’m not careful I drift into the rush, and it hurts our guys trying to protect.’”
That kind of self-awareness is rare, especially in a college quarterback coming off a strong season. Maye wasn’t just thinking about his own mechanics-he was thinking about how his flaws impacted his offensive line, and by extension, the entire offense. That’s the kind of accountability NFL coaches dream about.
Fast forward to now, and Maye is showing exactly why the Patriots made him their guy.
Through 14 games, Maye has thrown for 3,567 yards with 23 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. He’s completed 290 passes and added another 362 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. That’s a dual-threat quarterback producing like a seasoned pro, not a rookie still finding his footing.
And the team success is following. New England sits at 11-3, leading the AFC East ahead of the Bills, Dolphins, and Jets. In the broader AFC picture, they’re currently second, trailing only the Denver Broncos while staying ahead of the Jaguars and Steelers.
It’s been a resurgence for the Patriots, and Maye is right at the center of it.
Next up, New England hits the road for a primetime showdown against the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 21.
It’s a big test, no doubt-but if Maye’s track record says anything, it’s that he’ll be ready. Because long before he was lighting up NFL defenses, he was already doing the little things-staying loyal, staying humble, and putting in the work to get better.
That’s how you build a franchise quarterback. And it looks like the Patriots may have found theirs.