Picture the greatest New England Patriots quarterback of all time: someone who has changed the franchise completely, from a bottom-tier NFL team to a powerhouse of winning. While some may be thinking of Tom Brady or even Drew Bledsoe, they are, in fact, incorrect, because Drake Maye exists. “Hearing the name Drake Maye just brings a smile to my face, and it makes you think of someone who is carrying on the Patriots legacy,” Ryan Taylor (Class II) said. Henry Kocher’s (Class II) praise of Drake Maye stems from the general belief that Maye is genuinely a very good person. “Drake Maye has never told a lie ever since he chopped down that cherry tree,” Kocher said.
Maye, a North Carolina native and former University of North Carolina quarterback, was selected third overall in last year’s NFL draft. He is attracting a lot of attention from a dedicated Patriots fanbase. “[Maye] is picking up the Patriots after a very long drought of not being very good, and it brings people together to see the Patriots finally be good again,” Dylan Kovacs (Class III) said. Struggle in New England is something unusual for an entire generation of Patriots fans. After 20 years of Brady’s success, the team fell apart over the last three seasons, with a combined record of 16-35, and the firing of Jerod Mayo and Bill Belichick as head coaches. Newly hired Mike Vrabel looks to right the ship, and as a former Patriot himself, his ties to the New England area excite fans as the Patriots improve.
The dishonor of being widely regarded as one of he worst teams of the 2020s means fans are ecstatic with how well Maye has played, and are ready to rally behind the Maye-Vrabel era in Foxborough. These fans are so obsessed with their quarterback that they made an affectionate Instagram account for him, @drakemayelover, currently with 150,000 dedicated followers. Imagine the towns of Newton, Dedham, and Needham combined; that would still be less than the number of people who have devoted their time to celebrating Drake Maye. Kovacs has personally met Maye and was immediately impressed by him. “He is really mature on and off the field, and a very humble guy, always giving credit to his teammates like [rookie left tackle] Will Campbell,” Kovacs said.
While his fanbase may seem overzealous, his statistics this season are worthy of recognition. Per ESPN analytics, Drake Maye is the most accurate passer in the league, with a completion percentage of over 75%, which would set an NFL record should he continue at this pace. He also broke a record not even the so-called Greatest Of All Time, Tom Brady, could achieve during his career. Maye set the Patriots franchise record for completion percentage in a single game against the Tennessee Titans in Week 7, completing 91.3% of his passes. When asked about this at a press conference, Maye said, “I think all of that stuff is interesting and cool to be in those graphics … but I think what’s important is to try and keep it going. Keep on winning games.” Maye’s humility is part of why he is forging a strong bond with traditionally volatile wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs, who has had behavior problems with his previous teams, has stepped up as a leader this year on the Patriots, in large part due to Maye. Moreover, recently, Maye was elected team captain in only his second year, another testament to his leadership.
Drake Maye recently appeared at a football game between Catholic Memorial and Xaverian Brothers High School, showcasing his support for the community outside of Foxborough and giving his fans further reason to praise him. In the stands, hundreds of Drake Maye fans were wearing shirts that said “I Love Drake Maye.” Taylor believes Nobles students and others aspire to be like Maye because of his dedication. “We have a lot of athletes at Nobles, and I think what makes people connect with him is his success at such a young age. His work ethic is something people try to emulate,” he said.
Kocher is extremely excited for the rest of the season, predicting Drake Maye’s dominance in the NFL. Nobles students believe Drake Maye’s impact within New England is one of the most beneficial things to happen in recent sports history. Whether he is dropping beautiful passes into the hands of Patriots receivers or supporting local charities, Drake Maye has definitely changed the NFL’s perception of the Patriots and ignited a passion in fans that will leave a lasting impact on Foxborough.
