Drake Maye’s Journey to the Super Bowl

Mack Brown has a unique perspective on what Drake Maye is capable of. He coached Maye at the University of North Carolina, where Maye developed into a standout player before the New England Patriots picked him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Next week, Maye is set to step onto the field for his first Super Bowl. It’s impressive, really, that he made it to such a pivotal moment in just his second NFL season. Brown, however, always believed that Maye was destined for success at this level.

“I told the scouts, when he arrives, he’s a Super Bowl player; he’s going to win one,” Brown shared, noting without hesitation that he never imagined Maye would become the second-youngest player to achieve this.

Maye completed his tenure at UNC with an impressive 62 touchdowns and over 8,000 passing yards during his three seasons there. It’s worth mentioning that, despite some ups and downs—with UNC finishing 17-10 during his starting days—Maye certainly made his mark, including a trip to the ACC Championship Game in 2022 under Brown.

Before he returned to UNC, Brown had spent quite a while at Texas, bringing out the best in quarterbacks like Vince Young and Colt McCoy. He now sees Maye on a trajectory that could very well make him one of the greats in football history.

“I think Drake has a lot of potential. I hope he wins this game, but even if he doesn’t, I believe there are more Super Bowls in his future,” said Brown. “He’s not just one of the best I’ve coached; he’s going to be one of the best I’ve ever seen.” It’s a big statement, but maybe it reflects Brown’s true belief in Maye’s abilities.

Now, as the Patriots prepare to clash with the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on February 8th, anticipation is growing. Whether Maye is nervous or excited, one can’t be entirely sure. But he surely has a lot of eyes on him as he embarks on this incredible chapter in his career.