Career Timeline of Drake Maye: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Drake Maye made an impact.

Drake Maye is an American football quarterback currently playing for the New England Patriots in the NFL. He gained prominence playing college football at the University of North Carolina, where he won the Shaun Alexander Award and was named ACC Football Player of the Year in 2022 after leading the NCAA in total yards. Drafted third overall by the Patriots in 2024, Maye earned Pro Bowl honors during his debut season, showcasing his immediate impact in professional football.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1950: First Since 1950 to Throw 3 TDs and Lead Team in Rushing in First Start

After being named the starting quarterback on October 8, 2024, in his first start, Drake Maye became the first quarterback since at least 1950 to throw three touchdown passes and lead his team in rushing.

1973: First Since Steve Ramsey to Throw First 10 TDs to 10 Receivers

Drake Maye's first 10 passing touchdowns went to ten different receivers, making him the first NFL quarterback to accomplish that feat since Steve Ramsey did so in 1973.

1983: Tied Record for Quarterbacks Taken in First Round

In 2024, Drake Maye was the third of a record-tying six quarterbacks taken in the first round, equalling the record set in the 1983 draft.

1993: First Patriot since Drew Bledsoe to be Top 5 Pick

In 2024, Drake Maye was the first Patriot since Drew Bledsoe in 1993 to be selected in the top five of the draft.

July 2019: Committed to Alabama Crimson Tide

In July 2019, Drake Maye, a four-star prospect, initially committed to play college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

March 2020: Flipped Commitment to North Carolina

In March 2020, Drake Maye changed his commitment from the Alabama Crimson Tide to North Carolina.

2021: Appeared in Four Games

In 2021, during his redshirt freshman season for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Drake Maye appeared in four games as a backup to Sam Howell.

2022: Named ACC Player of the Year

In 2022, Drake Maye was named the ACC Player of the Year after leading the NCAA in total offense, passing for school records, and rushing for additional yards and touchdowns.

2022: Shaun Alexander Award and ACC Football Player of the Year

In 2022, Drake Maye won the Shaun Alexander Award and was named ACC Football Player of the Year after leading the NCAA in total yards.

2023: Second-Team All-ACC Honors

In the 2023 season, Drake Maye earned second-team All-ACC honors after achieving notable passing and rushing statistics.

May 28, 2024: Signed Four-Year Contract

On May 28, 2024, Drake Maye signed a four-year fully guaranteed contract worth $36.64 million with the New England Patriots.

October 8, 2024: Named Starting Quarterback

On October 8, 2024, Drake Maye was named the starting quarterback for the Patriots.

2024: Declared for the NFL Draft

Following the 2023 season, Drake Maye declared for the 2024 NFL draft.

2024: Selected by the New England Patriots

In 2024, Drake Maye was selected as the third overall pick in the NFL draft by the New England Patriots.

2024: Selected Third Overall in the NFL Draft

In 2024, Drake Maye was selected third overall by the New England Patriots in the NFL draft and earned Pro Bowl honors during his rookie season.

January 2025: Selected for Pro Bowl

In January 2025, Drake Maye was selected to play in the 2025 Pro Bowl Games as a replacement for Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

2025: New Coaching Staff

The 2025 season began with change in the Patriots' coaching staff with the hiring of new head coach Mike Vrabel and the return of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.