TRANSCRIPT: Drake Maye Interview on GMFB

Here’s the full transcription from New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye’s interview on Tuesday on Good Morning Football:

Drake May, what’s happening here on behalf of PNG Battle the Paddles?

“What’s going on? Doing all right? I appreciate the highlight. I don’t need to do any more highlights. I appreciate it, though.”

You don’t like watching your own highlights?

“I think it’s… Some people do. I think it’s… I like watching more of my teammates’ highlights.”

Okay, good to know. Next time we have you on, we’ll put your teammate highlights on. Exactly. We get that. Some guests come on and they smile from ear to ear watching their own plays. You are one that averts your eyes. We get it. We put you in that other category officially. We respect that. Drake, you played in your first Pro Bowl over the weekend coming off of a rookie season. What an experience that was for you. You got Peyton Manning showering you with praise. You’re playing with some of the best in the league. What was your rookie moment in the Pro Bowl over the weekend?

“That’s a great question. I think throwing a touchdowns to J’Marr [Chase] was pretty cool. That was pretty cool for me to experience that, one of the best in the NFL. And really, my rookie moment was just being around the guys, being around the veterans, seeing guys like Dexter Lawrence and Jeffery Simmons, someone I played against, Daneel Hunter, who sacked me and strip-sacked me himself. Seeing guys that I faced all year long and guys that I grew up playing Madden with as a video gamer, so kind of getting a chance to be around them and kind of be one of the guys was probably the coolest moment for me.”

Yeah. One of the guys you probably played with on that Madden on the defensive side was probably Mike Vrabel. He’s going to be your new head coach. You two have talked, and I know you said He’s been awesome. What have you guys discussed in your meetings? What are you guys talking about to take your game to the next level? Because you had an outstanding rookie year.

“Yes, sir. I think a big thing is, I think, a year one, to year two was people always talking about just taking a jump for me just trying to improve in certain areas. So I think one way is protecting the football. I think I can protect the football better and be better in situational moments. I think that can be huge for myself. So the big thing for me is get the guys going. I think Coach Vrabel was talking about coaching us up hard and getting the right guys in the locker room. I think that’s huge. Getting a guy that’s done it in New England and knows what it’s like to have success. I’m looking forward to having them there and excited.”

We’re excited to watch it, too, man. I think there was this moment when he got hired and we were so impressed with what you did as a rookie. We were like, ‘Oh, that’s going to be a cool match. The two of them winning games, Foxborough is back. It’s going to be very cool.’ I have to go back to Orlando, though. I worked the Pro Bowl this year, and I’ve worked it before, but I’ve never stayed at the same hotel as the players, and I did this year. Dude, I see it all differently now. There are guys getting after it. There’s guys having fun. There’s guys that they’re 12th Pro Bowl who just get it. Drake, who would you say was the MVP off the field, at the pool, on the bus, the glue guy who held it all together?

“You’re talking about for the AFC side or NFC?”

Sure. Yeah, your team, AFC, sure.

“AFC? That’s a great question. Man, AFC…. I think the guys up front were great. Big Jeff Simmons was great. I think Derwin James. Derwin James is a big personality. Derwin James was obviously a great player. What a career he’s had. I think it was a great personality, great guy in the locker room to have. I think he’s been a veteran. He’s been to a couple of Pro Bowls, so he was the glue guy of the team and the big personality. So it was awesome to have Derwin around.”

Jan 30, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; AFC quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws the ball during the Passing the Test event at the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge at Nicholson Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

(PHOTO: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

That’s pretty cool. Tell us about this pretty cool thing you’re activating with Proctor and Gamble. You’re playing in that PNG battle of the Paddles with the likes of Kirk Cousins and Tress Way. Tell us about this event and how confident are you that you’re going to be able to game these dude up in table tennis?

“Yeah, I feel pretty good about myself. I feel pretty good. The P & G battle of Paddles, looking forward to getting down there. I’ll catch you tomorrow. You all can tune in. It’s on Complex’s YouTube channel. Starts at 07: 00 PM. So I’m trying to represent the New England Patriots. I think ping-pong is a big thing in locker rooms across the league. So trying to represent my guys and give them a chance to kind of show our talent. So me and Hunter Henry back in New England, go at it a good bit. So looking forward to showing our talents and like my chances to win. So like I said, looking forward to tomorrow, tune in. And PNG and Lowe’s are teaming up. They got some more deals on Lowes.com through P &G products. So looking forward to showing my talents and hopefully, don’t get too nervous.”

So you clean on the paddle like that, huh?

“Yeah, I’m okay. I’m okay. I actually grew up getting beat up on by my older brothers in ping pong. So I still can’t beat my oldest brother, but I got a chance. I got a chance to take down there tomorrow.”

You know what? You’re allegedly just finishing one season in the NFL, but dude, you’re already so good at the pitch. You hit the website. You talked about P & G products. That is what you do this season. Guys can’t handle it. We’ve seen them melt before. I feel like you were just in the huddle right now. You nail it. You’re good at that stuff.

“Yeah, I had some tough play calls this year that I had to memorize, so not too bad.”

Drake, this is a little bit of a weird question. Just roll with me, all right? Earlier this year, we had on DeAndre Swift, this really good running back from Chicago Bears, and we’re like, ‘Dude, you’re a great player, great career. But In 2024, your last name is Swift. You have the same last name as the world’s most popular entertainer. What’s that like?’ He’s like, ‘Oh, my God, my phone all the time.’ You have grown up being named Drake in the era of Drake, and you’re surrounded by athletes who love Drake. What is that like for you? Is it fun or is it a burden?

“I think it’s pretty cool. I think it’s pretty cool. I think, obviously, I’m the other Drake, and probably not even the second Drake. Quite honestly, I’m sure there’s a bunch more celebrity Drakes out there. I think being a famous musician and I’m a big fan of Drake myself, so I need to get one of his concerts. That’s one thing I need to check off my list. Going to a Drake concert, I think it’s part of the nickname Drizzy and all that stuff. So I think it’s pretty cool.”

Is your nickname Drizzy?

“Yes. A lot of people call me Drizzy. Draco, they all make their own names.”

Are you friends with Kendrick Bourne on the team?

“KB? Yeah, KB is my guy. What a great personality.”

Okay. Just wanted to make sure that we were bridging friendships in the locker room because we certainly don’t see that in music right now.

“I got it now. I went over my head for a little bit.”

Drake, offseason question for you. Where do you spend your time? We always hear quarterbacks, especially, take different approaches coaches, Scottsdale guy, Miami guy. Do you stay in New England? What are you doing this summer?

“Yes, ma’am. I think that’s a good question. I think kind of my rookie year, figuring it out, it’s really the first time in my life you got four months off, so I’m trying to stay in shape. I’ll be back in Chapel Hill. Obviously, that’s where I went to college, and I have a lot of guys working out of there to throw to and work out at. I’ll be back home with my parents a little bit, but I think I may focus on getting back up there in New England. I’ll mix in being up there, so probably between North Carolina home and New England.”

Okay, Drake, can we make a deal?

“Let’s hear it.”

I promise, I vow on behalf of GMFB to never show your highlights coming into another interview with you if you never call me ‘Yes, ma’am’ again on television.

“It’s my fault. My fault. I grew up in the South.”

I understand it. I get it. Respect. ‘Yes, ma’am.’ I was like, ‘No, I’m 36. No.’

Okay. Well, Drake, I want to go off Jamie’s lead. I want to tap into your youth because let’s settle something. All right. So LeBron [James] is in the news a lot right now, okay? Because he’s got a new teammate. Oh, my gosh. Lebron is being talked about a lot. I feel like a lot of people your age from your generation go with LeBron in the LeBron versus MJ [Michael Jordan] debate. However, you also got Chapel Hill in your blood. Where do you come out? Best player of all time, LeBron or Jordan?

“I grew up watching LeBron and what a player he is. It can’t take me away from my roots. Michael Jordan is a North Carolina guy, and I think it’s the easy answer for me with Michael Jordan.”

Wow. Yes. We got hope for the young ones. Thank you, Drake, We’re going to be okay. Great answer, dude. You’re the man.

Yeah, Drake, really well done. Have an awesome weekend. P & G, Battle of the Paddles. You’re going to see Drake Maye and a bunch of other NFL stars. Drake, you’re the star of our show. Again, remember our deal, okay? We got it?

“Yes, ma’am.”

Oh, no!

“Thank you…”

(Editor’s Note: This transcription was done using the available footage and is subject to typographical errors. Please let me know of any errors in the comments below.)

About Ian Logue

Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.

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