Patriots’ QB Drake Maye earns first Pro Bowl appearance as an alternate
Maye and Pittsburgh's Russell Wilson have been selected to replace Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been added to the AFC’s Pro Bowl roster as an alternate, the team announced Tuesday.
It’s the first Pro Bowl selection for Maye, who threw for 2,276 yards and completed 66.6 percent of his passes during his rookie season. Fellow rookie Jayden Daniels made the NFC roster.
Maye finished the year with 15 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in 13 games played for New England (4-13). He and Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson were picked to replace Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, who opted not to play in the game.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Maye is the first Patriots quarterback to make the Pro Bowl since 2022, when Mac Jones made the game as an alternate during his rookie season. Jones went 12-for-16 in the game for 112 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
The Patriots’ coaching staff took a cautious approach with Maye at the beginning of the season, sitting him behind veteran Jacoby Brissett for the first four games. The young quarterback showed flashes of potential and was a bright spot for the franchise during a brutal season.
In addition to his passing production, Maye routinely made plays with his legs. accumulating 421 rushing yards on 54 carries (7.8 yards per attempt). He finished third on the team’s rushing list behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson.
Maye was the only Patriots player other than Stevenson to score more than one rushing touchdown this year.
The Patriots had one other Pro Bowler besides Maye — special teamer Brendan Schooler, who dropped out of the event because of an injury.
Maye and Schooler are the first Patriots Pro Bowlers since 2022, when Matthew Judon was selected.
The NFL revamped the Pro Bowl format, turning it into a multi-day event featuring skills competitions and a flag football game. The AFC vs. NFC flag football game will be on Sunday at 3 p.m.
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