Drake Maye Says He’s “Feeling Great” Ahead of Super Bowl Debut-Despite Shoulder Concerns
Drake Maye is on the brink of history, and he knows it.
The New England Patriots’ rookie quarterback is set to become the youngest player to start under center in a Super Bowl since Dan Marino. And if he leads the Patriots past the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, he’ll become the youngest quarterback ever to win it.
But there's a subplot that’s been hanging over Foxborough since the AFC Championship Game: Maye's shoulder.
The injury, which surfaced during the Patriots' gritty 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos, immediately raised eyebrows. A shoulder issue this close to the biggest game of the year? That’s the kind of thing that can shift a game plan-or a season.
Still, Maye isn’t flinching.
“I’m not trying to lie to you guys when I say I’m feeling great,” Maye told reporters Thursday morning. “I’m feeling great, and looking forward to getting out there today. Another day of practice, we got one tomorrow, and feeling pretty good.”
That’s not just a quarterback trying to sound tough. Maye looked confident and upbeat as he addressed the media-no sling, no hesitation in his words. And while it’s fair to question whether he’s at 100%, he’s not ducking the spotlight or the pressure.
Head coach Mike Vrabel isn’t offering much in the way of specifics, but he did acknowledge that Maye’s been active in practice and getting valuable reps.
“He spoke for himself on how he feels,” Vrabel said earlier in the week. “I can't determine how he feels. I know that practice yesterday was good for him and for everybody to get out there and get moving around.”
Vrabel also gave a nod to Stanford University for hosting the Patriots this week, saying the team’s preparation has gotten off to a strong start.
Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 draft, echoed that sentiment. On Monday, he sounded upbeat and even a little relieved.
“I’m feeling good. I’ll be just fine,” he said.
“I think I turned a corner landing on the flight, felt good from the flight, and throwing out there today. I really had no doubt in being 100 percent for the game.
It’s the Super Bowl.”
That last part says it all. It is the Super Bowl. No one’s expecting to be pain-free at this point in the season, but Maye’s confidence in his ability to play-and play well-is exactly what you want from your franchise quarterback.
“I threw a good bit (on Monday),” he added. “I threw as much as I would in a practice and it felt great.”
So while the shoulder storyline isn’t going away until Maye takes his first snap on Sunday-and maybe not even then-it’s clear that both he and the Patriots are leaning in, not backing off.
For a rookie quarterback about to walk into the biggest stage in football, Maye’s poise is already something to watch. Whether the shoulder holds up under the bright lights remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: he’s not letting the moment-or the injury-define him.