The traffic on Route 1 outside of Gillette Stadium resembles a city gridlock upon the conclusion of New England Patriots games.
Entering his third NFL season, quarterback Drake Maye has figured out a few shortcuts to evade the rows of brake lights. The drive home after a game, often with wife, Ann Michael Maye, riding shotgun, has become a favorite ritual for the couple – especially following a Patriots win, which was a common occurrence during the team’s run to the Super Bowl last season.
New England is now another home for this North Carolina couple who have been together for a decade but are not yet old enough to legally rent a car. The Mayes’ spoke with USA TODAY Sports in support of their recent partnership with CarGurus, a Boston-based company
that helps drivers research and shop for vehicles, that features both Ann Michael and Drake, with the campaign focusing on their everyday life and the little moments captured behind the wheel – whether that’s catching up on the phone with a family member or friend on the way to practice or celebrating a playoff win.
As much as everything changed around them, the Mayes say they've remained the same. In a wide-ranging interview, Maye said watching Ann Michael be herself and letting the rest of the NFL world, particularly Patriots fans, become a fan of her was the “coolest” part of last season.
Drake Maye, Ann Michael Maye soar in popularity together
Drake’s star grew on the field, while Ann Michael’s exploded online. Her TikTok now boasts 612,000 followers, she’s hosted a cooking show for NBC Sports Boston and has professional representation through Creative Arts Agency (CAA), which also reps Drake. “Bakemas” – her daily video series of baking a holiday-themed sweet treat – became a month-long celebration. Her videos, from Caesar salad wrap reviews to game-day outfit checks, are regularly watched by hundreds of thousands of viewers. Boston Magazine included her in the 150 most-influential Bostonians (not bad for a newcomer), with the cover boasting her as the "Queen of New England."
Meanwhile, Drake was putting together a MVP-caliber campaign as the Patriots marched to a 14-3 record, division title and Super Bowl appearance.
Maye’s worst game of the season came at the worst time – Super Bowl 60, against an unforgiving opponent, the Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots and Seahawks open the 2026 campaign Sept. 9, and Maye knows that he can’t avenge a Super-Bowl loss with a Week 1 win.
The Super Bowl film, at this point, is teaching tape, Maye said. The loss doesn’t consume him, but the past seven months haven’t been completely peaceful. His accuracy was lacking, he admitted. There were plenty of plays he wants back, and his conclusion is that there were enough throws for him to hit – he just didn’t.
Maye knows a Week 1 win can’t compensate for a Super-Bowl loss, but the Seahawks’ defense will once again be among the best in the league. Starting 1-0 is the concern for the third-year signal-caller.
The game helped him prioritize “the power of positive plays,” which has developed into a mantra for him and the Patriots’ offense. Entering Year 2 in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ system, Maye enjoyed the offseason understanding the “why” of the scheme he operates. That type of introspection and studying wasn’t always interesting to Maye, he said, but speaks to the way McDaniels teaches all of his players – not just quarterbacks.
The most-significant on-field change for Maye is the arrival of wide receiver A.J. Brown, who figures to be Maye’s top target in 2026. Building chemistry through practice and meetings is one level of a quarterback and receiver familiarizing themselves with one another. But Maye and Brown share a similar collegiate experience, as both played for offenses coordinated by Phil Longo, now the head coach at Sam Houston State.
Staying grounded through fame
Maye still drives the 2015 white GMC pickup his parents helped him buy after he was offered a football scholarship at North Carolina. It’s the one he and Ann Michael drove to their 2025 wedding in North Carolina and the vehicle he uses most often. Fitting his 6-foot-5 frame into a vehicle is never easy, he says, as he slips in a natural but savvy reference to why CarGurus gives shoppers the information they need to make the best decisions for themselves.
Part of making New England feel like North Carolina is bonding with other Patriots teammates and their families, particularly tight end Hunter Henry and his wife and children. Maye has also formed close bonds with the two first-round picks on either side of his draft class, cornerback Christian Gonzalez (2023) and left tackle Will Campbell (2025).
With Gonzalez, the “chill swagger” of the quiet yet confident defensive back has helped him see the game from the opponent’s standpoint. He referred to Campbell, who stands at 6-6 and weighs nearly 320 pounds, as his “little rook.”
The Mayes’ own families still have massive influences on them. Famously the youngest brother of four, Drake doesn’t have to go far outside the family tree for a dose of humility.
They can also look toward each other for motivation and are equally naturally competitive, especially with one another – whether they are playing tennis or mahjong (Ann Michael is currently in the lead by about six games).Then there are the quieter moments, like with a frost forming on the windshield as a Massachusetts State Trooper directing traffic waves you along with the rest of the traffic heading home – hopefully after a Patriots victory.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inside the life Drake and Ann Michael Maye have built in New England
