Former North Carolina State coach Mack Brown says he’s not surprised by the early impact New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has had in the NFL as the Patriots head into Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks.
Brown, who recruited the Charlotte, N.C., native away from an Alabama commitment and brought him to North Carolina in 2020, was Maye’s head coach for two seasons. Maye started 26 games under Brown, throwing 62 touchdown passes during that span. The Patriots used the No. 3 overall pick on Maye in the 2024 draft, and this season he has the team one win away from New England’s first championship since the Brady–Belichick era.
“I told the scouts when he comes in, he’s a Super Bowl player, he’s going to win a Super Bowl,” Brown told WRAL, adding that Maye’s ceiling is very high. Brown, who coached stars like Vince Young and Colt McCoy at Texas, said Maye could end up among the best players he’s been around and expects more big moments from him, even if New England falls short this time.
Brown also reflected on his time at UNC, noting that the Tar Heels went 17–10 with Maye as the starter and reached the 2022 ACC championship game, though the program didn’t fully capitalize on his talent while he was there.
This season Maye was named one of five MVP finalists. He led the league in completion percentage (72%) and yards per attempt (8.9), and ranked near the top in passing yards per game (258.5) and touchdown passes (31). He missed Friday’s practice with an illness and has been managing a shoulder issue, but Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said he’s not overly concerned. “I try not to worry too much,” Vrabel said, emphasizing the team’s preparation and situational game plans rather than dwelling on any single player’s condition.
Fan Take: Drake Maye’s rapid rise gives NFL fans a compelling new young star to follow and could signal a changing of the guard at quarterback for a historic franchise. If he keeps performing under pressure, Maye’s success might accelerate a broader trend toward dynamic, accurate passers reshaping team-building strategies across the league.
