When Drake Maye takes the field for the New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday night, there will be plenty of attention on what the quarterback can do with a football in his hands.
His family’s athletic history might be nearly as impressive.
Maye enters the 2026 season as one of the NFL’s biggest young stars after helping lead New England to Super Bowl LX last season. But becoming an elite athlete is hardly unusual in the Maye household.
Drake is the son of Mark and Aimee Maye, and sports have been woven into the family’s story for decades.
Mark played quarterback at North Carolina from 1983-88. Drake eventually followed his father to Chapel Hill and became one of college football’s most productive quarterbacks before New England selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Then there are Drake’s brothers.
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Drake Maye Grew Up in Remarkable Sports Family
Luke Maye became a household name among college basketball fans during North Carolina’s 2017 national championship run.
His jumper against Kentucky with 0.3 seconds remaining sent the Tar Heels to the Final Four, producing one of the most memorable shots in recent NCAA Tournament history.
Cole Maye was part of Florida’s 2017 national championship baseball team, while Beau Maye played basketball at North Carolina.
That means Drake grew up as the youngest of four brothers who all became college athletes.
The Patriots quarterback once summed up the family dynamic perfectly after arriving in New England.
“This is my squad. If you’re getting me, you’re getting them,” Maye said during his introductory visit with the Patriots.
The family’s athletic roots extend even further. Maye’s grandfather, Jerry, played professional baseball in the Minnesota Twins organization.
Maye Begins Another Chapter With Patriots
Now Drake has created his own place in the family’s sporting history.
His emergence helped transform the Patriots from a four-win team in 2024 into an AFC champion one season later. New England went 14-3 in Mike Vrabel’s first season as head coach before falling to Seattle in Super Bowl LX.
Wednesday provides Maye and the Patriots with an immediate opportunity to face the team that ended their championship run.
It also begins another chapter for a quarterback who grew up surrounded by championship-level athletes.
In the Maye family, apparently, that’s just what you do.
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