New England Patriots
“Everybody’s got the same goal this time of year, to get back to that game,” Maye said.
Drake Maye AP Photo/Julio Cortez
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The Patriots finished one win short of a Super Bowl title during Drake Maye’s second season, and the young quarterback offered some perspective on what he learned during a recent interview at The Masters.
Two months after the 29-13 loss to Seattle, Maye said he’s ready to continue his quest for the Lombardi Trophy.
Coming up short on such a big stage isn’t easy, and there are no guarantees on a return trip. It was the first playoff loss of his career, and he said after the game that he had received a pain-killing injection to help him deal with a shoulder injury.
He has since said that he is healthy, and now, with couple months of rest and the Patriots set to start their voluntary offseason workout program next week, he’s eager to get back on the field.
“I think that’s the biggest thing about it. It’s humbling,” Maye said. “You’ve got to get back to work. When you’re so close and within reach, you want that feeling. “Everybody says, ‘You’ll be back.’ It’s not that easy. So, we’ve got to get back to work, and I’m looking forward to trying to prove to myself that we can get back and just have another year to get a chance at it.”
Along with the start of the offseason program, the NFL Draft is quickly approaching, with the three-day event set to kick off next week in Pittsburgh.
Offseason workouts, organized team activities, and minicamp are also coming up on the calendar.
It’s still early in the offseason, but Maye says he already has his eyes on another deep playoff run. The Patriots were a surprise contender last season, going from 4-13 in 2024 to 14-3 and winning an AFC East title in 2025.
“Everybody’s got the same goal this time of year, to get back to that game,” Maye said. “I think knowing that we were there and had a chance at it is just that much more fulfilling for me being able to reach that.”
Maye and his wife Ann-Michael were interviewed together at The Masters. She was asked about how they navigated the highs and lows of the Patriots’ longest playoff run since 2018.
“I think that’s part of it, football is obviously a big part of our life but it’s also like your job,” Ann-Michael Maye said. “So, it’s like whatever happens I’ll be with you through it all. If things don’t go your way, we’re still here, we’re good, learn from it and move on to the next and it’s obviously so fun being there supporting him through all of it. It’s awesome.”
Drake Maye said the support from his family has been a helpful aspect of the journey.
“I think our faith is big,” Drake Maye said. “I’ve been saying a lot lately that my passion is football, but my purpose is our faith and having a wife and starting a family soon. Being driven by that is kind of what we’re here for.”
“At the end of the day, I’ve got my three older brothers who are making jokes after the game about me missing throws or throwing interceptions and I’ve got my wife over here pumping me up so we’ve got a good little mix.”
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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