From Driveway Dreams to NFL Reality: The Journey of Drake Maye
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — At the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in suburban Charlotte, a driveway was widened a few years back, a project initiated by Dad. He was tired of seeing the dents his four boys left in the garage during their intense pickup basketball games.
On those clear summer nights, when the heat clung to the skin long after sunset, the driveway served as a bustling arena. It was predominantly filled with the boys, often joined by friends. The house maintained an open-door policy, welcoming anyone who wanted to join in.
“King of the Court” was the name of the game. One-on-one matches ensued, where you stayed on the court until you lost, and the next challenger rotated in for a shot at glory. Fouls were only called for egregious offenses, and they played until their shadows stretched long across the pavement, often settling games beneath the headlights of Dad’s truck.
As time passed, the participants changed. The oldest brother ventured off to win a national championship for the beloved blue blood team just a couple of hours away. The second eldest pursued baseball at Florida, helping to secure that school’s second national title.
The two youngest brothers remained, bursting with competitive spirit, frequently ending driveway games with swinging elbows. Eventually, Dad stepped in as a referee, trying to settle disputes and prevent bloodied noses and blackened eyes. The boys dubbed him “Buzzkill” for intervening, but he stood firm in his role.
The hoop atop the driveway now sits silent. The parents have transitioned into empty nesters. Earlier this summer, the youngest son packed up his belongings in his old, white truck and embarked on his journey toward independence.
Drake Maye, 21, recently signed a four-year contract with the New England Patriots worth over $36 million, a testament to being the NFL’s No. 3 draft pick this offseason. It’s ample money to ship his truck north, or even purchase a new one. Yet, he insisted on driving the truck himself, backing out of the driveway as he began the task of reviving a franchise whose glory days seemed distant.
After New England selected Maye, Patriots owner Robert Kraft sent his jet down to Carolina to collect the team’s new quarterback. Drake insisted on bringing along his three brothers. During his official introduction at Gillette Stadium, he brought Luke, 27, Cole, 26, and Beau, 23, up on stage with him, declaring, “If you’re getting me, you’re getting them.”
Mark Maye, 59, enjoys breakfast while scooping scrambled eggs onto his plate, accompanying them with toast and orange juice. A lifelong resident of this area, he grew up in Charlotte and played quarterback down the road at Independence High School. Those familiar with him say he could have made it in the NFL if not for a troublesome shoulder injury.
Almost everyone in town recognizes him, stopping by his table to exchange greetings. There’s a football coach he’s been mentoring, a school administrator, and a longtime friend — all eager to check in on his recent hip surgery and hear updates about his sons.
Recently, Mark visited Foxboro, Mass. It was his first trip back since he attended as a freshman quarterback at UNC, witnessing Doug Flutie kick off his 1984 Heisman campaign by scoring six touchdowns and putting up 52 points against the Tar Heels.
Mark and his wife, Aimee, didn’t have a packed itinerary for their trip to New England. They simply wanted to check out Drake’s new apartment and get a feel for the place that would become his home. They went searching for the best burger and ice cream cone in the small towns surrounding Foxboro, surprised to find Drake already being approached for pictures.
Drake recounted a recent visit to Fenway Park, where he sat atop the Green Monster, marveling at its imposing height. He attended Bruins and Celtics playoff games, raving about the electric atmosphere. For a sports-obsessed kid, the opportunity to experience events and venues like these was a dream come true.
As a child, he proudly displayed a Cam Newton Fathead on the wall of his bedroom and made his dad promise him a Super Bowl trip if his beloved Carolina Panthers made it in 2015. Four months later, they were in the stands as Newton led the Panthers onto the field in Super Bowl 50. He also attended the NCAA Tournament in 2017, where he witnessed Luke nail the game-winner to send UNC to the Final Four.
Often, he found himself in the backseat of the family car, whisked away to another brother’s game or practice, shooting hoops with kids his age during halftime, or playing pickup football in foul territory. At home, he was determined to outshine his older brothers, regardless of the physical toll, and despite his dad’s pleas for moderation.
When Drake was just 8 years old, they installed a Nerf mini hoop in the foyer. Mark warned the kids to be careful, taking a quick trip to the other room and asking them not to end up in the hospital. “Then, as soon as I turn the corner, I hear bang!” Mark recalled. “Drake cut his head on the banister.”
Drake was the smallest of the bunch. Even at 6-foot-4, he stands a few inches shorter than his brothers today. However, he was the loudest, always ready to trash talk. When legendary coach Roy Williams visited their home to recruit Luke, Drake boldly proclaimed he would tell the coach to return in a few years to recruit an even better player.
The football stadium at Myers Park High School is situated on a hill, surrounded by tall trees and exuding an old-school atmosphere on Friday nights. This is where Maye blossomed into a can’t-miss prospect in front of standing-room-only crowds. He transferred to Myers Park before his sophomore year, seeking a place to showcase his talent after being blocked from playing time at Hough High School, where his three older brothers attended.
In his first season at Myers Park, Maye threw for 3,201 yards in 13 games, racking up 36 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He quickly emerged as one of the top prospects in the nation.
To highlight their star quarterback, the school arranged a more challenging schedule ahead of his junior year. However, Maye had a request before the season began: he wanted to face Hough, where many of his friends played and where he had not yet claimed the starting role.
His coach, Scott Chadwick, initially declined the request, citing the already grueling schedule. Hough consistently ranked among the top five teams in the state, making it a risky addition. But Maye was insistent, and for the fourth game of that season, Myers Park made the trip to Hough. Maye delivered a stunning performance, throwing for six touchdowns and running for another.
“It was like video-game numbers,” Chadwick recalled. “I took him out at the start of the fourth quarter, and he was mad at me. I told him, ‘Dude, it’s 68-7.’”
Myers Park became the top team in the state, earning national recognition. The Mustangs averaged 50 points per game, often resting their starters by the fourth quarter. Maye threw for an astounding 50 touchdowns that season, with only two interceptions.
In a twist of fate, Myers Park scheduled a 2020 game against Deion Sanders’ Trinity Christian High School, which ultimately had to be canceled due to the pandemic.
As Maye’s recruitment gained momentum after his sophomore season, he worried he might not receive attention from schools, convinced he would follow his family legacy to Chapel Hill like his dad and oldest brother. But UNC was struggling during that period, posting a 3-9 record in 2017 and a dismal 2-9 the following year.
Having witnessed two of his brothers achieve national titles, Maye yearned for a championship of his own. He urged Chadwick to broadcast that he wasn’t heading to UNC. After this declaration, offers flooded in from major football programs across the country.
In July 2019, ahead of his junior year, Maye chose Alabama over Ohio State and Clemson. The very next day, he received a call from Mack Brown, the newly re-hired coach at North Carolina. Brown had longstanding ties with the Maye family; Mark had worked for Brown in the late 1980s and first met Aimee while serving as a graduate assistant.
“We’re going to win,” Brown recalled telling Drake, “so you just watch, and I want you to keep this in mind and not give up on it.”
Less than a year later, Drake called Brown back and flipped his commitment to play at home in North Carolina. “He called and said, ‘Coach, you were so right. This is who I am. This is my place. This is my school,’” Brown said.
While college coaches are prohibited from attending informal summer practices organized by players, they are aware of these gatherings. After Sam Howell departed from UNC in 2022, the Tar Heels opened up the competition for their starting quarterback position. Brown called 10 players he trusted into his office to inquire about the practices. His question was simple: Who’s your quarterback?
“They all said Drake,” Brown confirmed.
Maye shattered school records, leading the nation in total offense with 5,019 yards while breaking the school record with 4,321 passing yards and tying a Tar Heels record with 38 touchdowns. He was named ACC player of the year as a redshirt freshman.
After that season, new rules regarding transferring and NIL deals attracted attention from larger football programs. “He was tampered with at the highest level,” Brown remarked. Rumors circulated about seven-figure offers attempting to lure Maye away.
Concerned about the whispers, he sought a conversation with Brown. “He came in and said, ‘Coach, listen. There are a lot of rumors out there, but I’m not going anywhere. I’m not in it for money. I just want to play and play here,’” Brown recounted.
Maye set another rule that season regarding NIL deals: if you wanted him for an endorsement, you had to include the offensive linemen as well.
The 2023 season did not unfold as anticipated. The Tar Heels altered their offensive scheme, emphasizing the running game. The offensive line struggled, and their top receiver, Tez Walker, was ineligible to start the season. Losses began to accumulate.
Coaches often worry in such situations, questioning whether NFL-bound players will still give their all in seemingly meaningless games when draft position and potential millions are on the line.
Several days after Thanksgiving, North Carolina was already eliminated from conference title contention and found themselves trailing heavily at halftime against rival NC State. Nothing seemed to work. If there was ever a moment to throw in the towel and focus on the bigger picture, this was it.
“But then I go see (Maye) at halftime, and he’s like, ‘Coach, I like this and this and let’s go back to this,’” said offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey. “He never showed any signs of not wanting to compete all the way to the end. In fact, he tweaked his ankle a little bit, and the trainers told me he was probably going to be out. Then he jogs back onto the field.”
Even at 6-4, Drake Maye is the shortest of the four brothers. The night before games last season, Maye sat with Clyde Christensen, who currently serves as a consultant for Brown. Christensen spent a decade with Peyton Manning and the Colts as an offensive assistant, followed by four years as Andrew Luck’s quarterbacks coach and three years with Tom Brady.
Each Friday night, Maye peppered Christensen with questions. How’d Manning handle this formation? What did Brady do against this coverage? Maye cherished the opportunity to gain insights from Christensen, so he spent the final weeks before his first NFL training camp prepping with him.
What lies ahead in 2024 remains uncertain. Maye has been part of the second-team offense throughout training camp, with veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett likely to start for the Patriots when the season kicks off in four weeks. The bigger question is how long it will be before Maye takes the reins.
What set Manning and Brady apart, Christensen explained to Maye, wasn’t just their arm talent. They had an insatiable desire to be coached, pushed harder, and competed in everything. “Drake possesses that,” Christensen stated. “You have a loyal, good man. That would be the banner over everything. That’s what Peyton and Tom had. They had the traits, but they were good men who wanted to be great and wanted to be coached. They wanted to work hard and see their teammates succeed. And that’s what the Patriots just acquired.”
Prior to the draft, NFL teams investigate a prospect’s background to gauge his character. Those who know Maye best paint a rather mundane picture. He enjoys driving his truck, watching sports, and casually throwing the football around. “One of the teams asked me how he was going to handle being in a big city and a big market,” Chadwick recalled. “And I’m like, ‘If you have a Chick-Fil-A, you’re good.’ Trust me, he’s not going to be Googling the best clubs in the city.”
“I’ve often said, I would adopt him — he’s that perfect a kid,” Brown said. “It may sound corny, but it’s true. He’s been dating his seventh-grade girlfriend, which is unusual. He’s not going to cuss, not going to drink, and he’s not going to be out — but he can lead a room.”
In June, Maye settled into his new apartment not far from Gillette Stadium. He called his parents, slightly frustrated while assembling new furniture, feeling as though he had received too few screws. He turns 22 on Aug. 30, and the pressures of the NFL loom ahead.
Maye was aware that challenges awaited him. That’s why, the night before the NFL Draft transformed his life, he rented a court at the Detroit Athletic Center, right across from Ford Field. He yearned for one last pickup game after dinner. All four brothers gathered, along with a host of friends. They played full-court basketball.
It was reminiscent of those summer nights when the driveway lights illuminated their hoop. The next day, he would be the quarterback selected to revitalize an NFL dynasty. But for that one final night, he was simply playing pickup hoops with his brothers, the youngest of four proving that he could keep pace.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos courtesy of Aimee Maye, G Fiume / Getty Images, Aaron M. Sprecher / Associated Press)
