The New England Patriots are playoff-bound for many reasons, beginning with the hiring of Mike Vrabel and his outstanding roster construction and coaching. But on the field, the star of the season is budding superstar second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
As expected, Maye set the NFL ablaze in 2025, and equalled another record only one other quarterback had previously achieved: throwing for 4,000+ yards, 30+ touchdowns, and a 72% completion.
Maye's emergence is actually no surprise. Mike Vrabel, the should-be NFL Coach of the Year, indicated that one of the top reasons he took the Patriots job at all was because he'd have Drake Maye. That about said it all.
The second-year quarterback has exceeded even the most gaudy predictions of how he'd fare in his sophomore season and made the Pro Bowl again. Rather than a sophomore slump, he took his game to a whole new level - an MVP level, and whether he wins that coveted award or not, he was the 2025 NFL MVP.
Drake Maye had a little-recognized superb rookie season
The talented Patriots rookie made the Pro Bowl in his first season. That's no mean feat. His being recognized by the league's MVP, the terrific Josh Allen, at the game spoke volumes about the young quarterback's potential.
He accomplished that despite being almost totally mismanaged by the team's 2024 leadership.
The rookie had no first-team snaps in the entire preseason and until Game 4 of the regular season. Instead, the hierarchy hitched their wagon to veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett, a career backup. That move flopped as expected, and Maye only started 12 games in 2024 with very little meaningful preparation. Yet, he still completed 66% of his passes with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
In 2025, with Vrabel at the helm, everything changed. First, Vrabel conducted one of the best offseasons in team history. He upgraded all over the field, especially his offensive line and wide receiver rooms. Maye took full advantage as his 2025 statistics demonstrate.
.@Patriots QB @DrakeMaye2 has joined QB Jared Goff (2024) as the only players in @NFL history to throw for 4,000+ yards and 30+ TDs on at least 72% completion percentage in a single season.
— Patriots Communications (@PatriotsComms) January 5, 2026
Maye is the only player to have done so before their age 30 season. pic.twitter.com/tRXE0zGv5I
The trajectory for the Patriots and Drake Maye is up
The 2025 Patriots enter the post-season for the first time since 2021, when they were summarily blown out by the Allen-led Bills in Buffalo. Since then, it was all downhill for the Patriots until Maye, and then a year later, Vrabel arrived.
Vrabel, after a shaky first three games, righted the ship, and with Maye throwing darts and completing an almost unheard-of percentage of his passes (72 percent), the listless 2024 offense sprang to life. Vrabel inserted four new starters on the offensive line and added four new receivers to boot. He also drafted explosive All-Rookie first-team running back TreVeyon Henderson with his second-round pick. He's been brilliant.
Those additions, along with playmakers all over the defense, turned a listless, lackluster 4-13 (actually 3-14 team, but the Bills gifted the final 2024 game to the hapless Patriots) team into AFC East champions. It was a remarkable transformation.
Now, the Mike Vrabel-led Patriots and their precocious, MVP candidate and All-Pro level quarterback, Drake Maye, head for the playoffs, and observers should be careful not to underestimate this rejuvenated squad. Vrabel and Maye, as a pair, are as good as any in the NFL.
Anything, including lugging home the Patriots' seventh Lombardi Trophy, is possible. Don't rule anything out.