The New England Patriots selected Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. After a standout rookie year, he’s now taken another major leap in his second season.
Before his ascension into becoming a potential MVP, what else should the pro football world know about the people who brought Maye into the world?
A Look At Drake Maye’s Parents
Mark and Aimee Maye are the proud parents behind the standout quarterback from North Carolina who has now become one of the NFL’s most highly regarded young stars.
Both happened to meet on the Chapel Hill campus during their college years. North Carolina head coach Mack Brown spoke about Maye and the impact his parents have had on his career on “The Jim Rome Show“.
“If his mom and dad would let me, I’d adopt him,” Brown said. “He is a great person. He’s competitive. He’s grown up in an athletic family. His mom was a college athlete. His dad was the leading passer in the ACC. He’s got two brothers that won national championships — one in baseball at Florida, one at basketball here. He’s got another brother that was on our basketball team.
He’s the youngest of four, so he’s been beaten up. He had to fight to get a chicken leg at the table. He’s so competitive in everything he does. He’s smart. He’s got pride. He is so passionate about football that he does everything right in his life to make sure that he is going to play the best he can play.”
So now that Maye is emerging as one of the NFL’s brightest young stars, the question is: just how athletic is the family he comes from?
More About Maye’s Father
It turns out Maye is a legacy recruit at UNC. His father, Mark Maye, played quarterback for the Tar Heels from 1983 to 1988, appearing in 33 games during his college career.
Mark threw for 3,459 yards with 20 touchdowns and 22 interceptions, eventually earning the role of team co-captain in 1987. That season, he set UNC’s single-game passing record with 406 yards against Georgia Tech, a performance that also featured a 93-yard touchdown strike to Randy Marriott.
Mark Maye emerged as co-captain of the 1987 Heels. He held UNC’s single-game record of most passing yards (406) against Georgia Tech, which was also the same game that saw Maye deliver a record-breaking 93-yard touchdown pass to Randy Marriott.
Mark’s achievements ultimately helped earn him a place in the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.
More About Maye’s Mother
Was Aimee Maye an athlete at UNC? Drake Maye’s mom also led her own team.
Aimee Maye was once known as Aimee Sockwell — a basketball standout at the high school level before moving on to North Carolina. She was a standout basketball player at West Charlotte High School, earning Mecklenburg County Girls Player of the Year honors as a senior.
However, instead of continuing her hoops career at North Carolina, she chose a different path. She cheered from the stands, supporting her future husband, Mark, and later returned to root for her sons in Chapel Hill.
Does Maye Have Any Siblings?
There are four Maye boys altogether.
The oldest sibling, Luke Maye, became the first national champion in the family. He made a name for himself as a UNC basketball star under Roy Williams, helping lead the Tar Heels to the 2017 national title. His unforgettable game-winner against Kentucky in the Elite Eight famously sent UNC to the Final Four.
Luke followed that moment with two strong seasons, averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds as a junior and 14.9 points with double-digit boards again as a senior. He now plays professional basketball overseas in Japan.
Then there’s Cole Maye. He made his mark on the baseball diamond outside of his home state. He emerged as a national championship series pitcher for Florida in 2017 … the same year Luke led the Heels to the NCAA MBB title.
Finally, Beau Maye rounds out the three siblings of the future NFL passer. Beau starred at William A. Hough High School in Cornelius, NC, and became a two-time captain on the hardwood. He went on to walk on for UNC basketball for the 2022 season.
Maye has been impressive in the 2025 NFL campaign, throwing for 3,130 yards, 21 touchdowns, and six interceptions, while rushing for 307 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games.
Heading into Week 13, he sits second among the quarterbacks in the league based on PFSN’s QB Impact metric, proving he is quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s top young quarterbacks.
New England Patriots’ Insights for Week 13
Team: New England has outscored its opponents by 104 combined points in the second and third quarters.
QB: Drake Maye has 16 touchdown passes and four interceptions in New England’s nine-game win streak.
Offense: New England is averaging 26.5 points per game. They scored a total of 27 points in the team’s two losses to the Raiders and Steelers.
Defense: The Patriots have a 78.4 DEFi (12th in NFL) this season, after a 66.1 DEFi (30th) last season.
Fantasy: Just when it seemed like Stefon Diggs was morphing back into a WR1, he suddenly took a backseat to both Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte, playing over 20 fewer snaps and running 10 fewer routes than each of them. The Giants are a top-five matchup for wide receivers, though.