Drake Maye broke down on the podium at Levi Stadium following the Patriots' loss. Here's what happened between the quarterback and his coach at Super Bowl 60.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Drake Maye sat in a gray chair on an elevated podium and started to cry.
It was around 7:45 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, roughly 20 minutes after the Patriots lost Super Bowl 60. The Seattle Seahawks battered the quarterback and his offense. He was hurting in more ways than one.
Maye admitted he received a pain-killing injection in his right throwing shoulder. The quarterback took enough lumps inside Levi Stadium thanks to six sacks and 11 hits overall. But that’s not why his eyes started to well up postgame.
That happened when he was asked about his head coach, Mike Vrabel.
“Yeah, he was a heartbeat. No doubt about that,” Maye said. “He was the reason why we were here. I look forward to my relationship with him for a long time. He’s a great person and hell of a football coach.”
At this point, grass stains covered his formerly white pants. Maye didn’t have time to shower and change before meeting the media following the end of a promising season.
The second-year quarterback made big strides in 2025. He earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors. Last week, he finished second in MVP voting, losing by five points. But in this moment, Maye struggled.
As he continued to talk, his eyes filled up with tears. He spoke about the special bond he had with teammates and struggled to speak. Maye took a big deep breath and lowered his chin to his chest, briefly closing his eyes.
“I’m so proud,” Maye said. “That’s probably the reason I’m choked up the most. This team is something that I’m glad to be a part of.”
The 2025 NFL season didn’t end the way the Patriots or their quarterback wanted. After a remarkable year, Maye and the offense fluttered against a Seahawks team that clearly had a better defense.
As the quarterback struggled to process the Super Bowl loss, his teammates were back inside Levi Stadium singing his praises. Maye didn’t become a champion on Sunday, but the 23-year-old’s abilities give the Patriots a chance to get back to this stage again.
Patriots support their QB
The home-team locker room inside Levi Stadium was quiet.
At this point, the party on the field was raging on. Green confetti already rained down on the turf. The Seahawks were Super Bowl champions. The Patriots were runners-up.
They understand how hard it is to get to this point. The NFL season is long and grueling. There’s no guarantee the Patriots will ever get back to this point, but players on this team believe it’s only a matter of time.
After all, they have the quarterback.
“We have a lot of talented people on the roster, especially Drake,” right guard Michael Onwenu said. “He’s been balling. He’s a good player, so it’ll be fun to watch him in the years coming up, coming next…
“Unfortunately, we lost tonight, but we’ll be back, and I believe that.”
The No. 3 overall pick in 2024, Maye showed special ability this past season.
He finished the season, leading the NFL in completion percentage (72.0) and passer rating (113.5). He also added 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Maye also added 450 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Nearly every game, the quarterback had several eye-opening moments.
Of course, on Sunday night, none of that mattered.
The Seahawks won the battle in the trenches, sacking Maye five times in the first three quarters. All those moments led to the Patriots’ punt except for one, when Maye was strip-sacked with 16 seconds left in the third quarter. That led to Seattle’s first touchdown. The Seahawks’ second touchdown came off a Maye interception, where he was hit hard by Devon Witherspoon.
It was a tough night for the quarterback, who completed 27-of-43 passes for 295 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions, and a fumble.
After the game, Maye’s teammates stuck up for him.
“Keep going. Steph Curry. Keep shooting,” receiver Stefon Diggs said. “He’s 23 years old. It’s a team effort. From my standpoint, I wish I could’ve done more. It’s hard playing quarterback. It’s not a one-man band. He has a supporting cast. We needed to do a better job supporting him.
“He’s young, he did what he could, fought long, fought hard… I’m just super proud of him.”
Maye gave his teammates a simple message after the loss – remember the feeling.
“That’s what I told those guys in the locker room. This is fuel,” Maye said. “If it’s not, I don’t know what this feeling could do for you. This is tough.”
Maye wasn’t alone
It was 8:27 p.m. when Maye finally entered the locker room on Sunday night. Most of his teammates were gone, having left the stadium for the team bus. Five players remained – Morgan Moses, Jaylinn Hawkins, Marcus Jones, Christian Gonzalez and Jahlani Tavai.
After being the youngest starting quarterback in the NFL as a rookie, Maye started last season as the second youngest starting quarterback behind Minnesota’s J.J. McCourty.
After the loss, the team’s message about their quarterback was simple – they trust, love and support him.
“I love Drake, man,” Moses said. “Drake is an amazing human being outside of just being a great quarterback, man. He’s literally been our MVP the whole season. As a young player, in year two, it’s undeniable what he’s been able to do this season. He put the league on notice that there’s a new quarterback in the AFC that you’ve got to worry about. That’s who he is, man.”
Two minutes after Maye entered the locker room, Vrabel entered.
The coach walked around the locker room, thanking the media for their coverage, and approached the remaining players. He started on the defensive side of the room, saying, “Thank you for a great season,” to Tavai, Gonzalez, Jones, and Hawkins.
As he turned the corner to the offensive side of the room, only Maye remained. The quarterback faced his locker and was moving slowly.
At 8:29 p.m., Vrabel patted him on the right hip and stood to his left. The coach leaned in and whispered words of encouragement. Vrabel was there for a few minutes before patting Maye twice on the back and stepping out of the locker room.
It wasn’t that long ago when the quarterback was teary-eyed, talking about his coach. At the same time, Vrabel spoke highly of Maye.
“I’m sure he’s over there talking about all the things he has to do to improve and what he could’ve done better,” Vrabel said. “I care deeply about him. I’m confident they’ll be back and they’ll do everything they can to help this team. We won a lot of football games with the guys we have. Drake’s a big reason why we’re here. I can’t wait to get back and coach him again.”
It was 8:31 p.m. when the young quarterback was dressed in a white, long-sleeved shirt with black pants and black shoes. Maye picked up a black bag and exited the locker room with his head down.
Most of his teammates had already departed the stadium by this point, but the Patriots quarterback wouldn’t leave alone.
Waiting for him in the hallway was Vrabel. At 8:33 p.m., the Patriots coach and quarterback walked side-by-side. They traveled down the tunnel that led out of Levi Stadium and eventually to the team’s bus.
The Patriots didn’t win the Super Bowl on Sunday night, but after a 4-win season, they accomplished more than anyone thought.
As the coach and quarterback left the stadium, they did so together.
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