Super Bowl LX: Drake Maye, Patriots Set for Showdown with Seahawks in a Clash of Legacy and Momentum
The road to Super Bowl LX hasn’t exactly been smooth for the New England Patriots, but it’s been undeniably effective. After grinding out a gritty 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, the Patriots are heading to San Francisco to face the Seattle Seahawks in a matchup loaded with history-and a rising star under center.
That star is Drake Maye. The second-year quarterback has not only led New England back to the big stage, but he’s also earned the kind of praise that carries serious weight in NFL circles. Hall of Famer Joe Montana-yes, that Joe Montana-recently gave Maye a nod of approval on the Pat McAfee Show, saying, “I just think that he's playing within himself and that's all you have to do.”
Coming from a four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Super Bowl MVP, that’s not just a compliment-it’s a passing of the torch. Montana knows what it takes to win at the highest level, and his words suggest Maye is on the right path.
"I just think that he's playing within himself and that's all you have to do." ✍️
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 27, 2026
Hall of Fame QB @JoeMontana on Drake Maye ahead of his first career Super Bowl 🏆
(via @patmcafeeshow) pic.twitter.com/GL6aJkOj5H
And the numbers back it up.
Maye’s sophomore campaign was nothing short of impressive. He threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns, completing a sharp 72% of his passes while posting a QB rating of 113.5.
That’s not just efficient-that’s elite. His poise, command of the offense, and ability to make plays in high-leverage moments have given this Patriots team a new identity.
To put it in perspective, Maye is now the second-youngest quarterback in NFL history to start in a Super Bowl. Only Dan Marino, who led the Dolphins to Super Bowl XIX, reached the big game at a younger age. Not bad company for a player who, just a year ago, was still finding his footing in the league.
Even as a rookie, Maye showed flashes of what was to come. He put up 2,276 passing yards and 15 touchdowns with a 66.6% completion rate and an 88.1 quarterback rating. Solid numbers for a first-year starter, but it’s the leap he made in Year 2 that has propelled New England back into the NFL spotlight.
The Patriots finished the regular season at 14-3, capturing the AFC East title and reestablishing themselves as a postseason force. Now, they’re back in the Super Bowl for the first time since 2019, when they beat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in a defensive slugfest.
This year’s matchup brings added intrigue. It’s a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, one of the most memorable games in league history.
That 2015 thriller ended with the Patriots edging the Seahawks 28-24, thanks to Malcolm Butler’s iconic goal-line interception. While many of the faces have changed since then, the stakes and intensity remain the same.
New England enters this Super Bowl with six Lombardi Trophies already in the case, and now, with Maye at the helm, they’re chasing a seventh. For a franchise that’s built its legacy on dominant quarterback play and clutch postseason performances, Maye’s emergence feels like a natural continuation of that tradition.
He may not have the résumé of Brady or the mystique of Montana-yet-but Drake Maye has a chance to carve out his own chapter in Patriots history. And if his current trajectory holds, this Super Bowl could be just the beginning.