Drake Maye was ‘built for Super Bowls’ as Patriots QB reaches NFL's biggest stage, Mack Brown says

Mack Brown knows first-hand what benignant of subordinate Drake Maye tin be. Before the New England Patriots selected Maye successful the archetypal circular of the 2024 NFL Draft, Brown coached Maye astatine North Carolina.

Next week, Maye volition play successful the archetypal Super Bowl of his career. While Maye reached the game’s biggest signifier successful conscionable his 2nd NFL season, Brown was ever assured his erstwhile backmost would person occurrence astatine the adjacent level.

"I told scouts erstwhile they would travel done that he's a Super Bowl guy, He'll triumph a Super Bowl," Brown told WRAL. "I didn't cognize helium was going to person a accidental to beryllium the second-youngest feline to ever bash it."

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New England Patriots backmost Drake Maye looks toward his seat during the 2nd fractional of the AFC Championship NFL shot crippled against the Denver Broncos successful Denver, Colorado, connected Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Maye finished his two-year tally arsenic the Tar Heels’ starting backmost with 62 touchdowns. He threw for 8,018 yards implicit his 3 years successful a North Carolina uniform.

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Before returning to UNC, Brown spent 16 years astatine Texas, wherever helium coached respective highly touted NFL-bound quarterbacks, including Vince Young and Colt McCoy. Brown believes Maye is connected a way that could yet spot him among the game’s all-time greats.

New England Patriots backmost Drake Maye (10) warms up anterior to the AFC Championship NFL shot crippled against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, successful Denver.  (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

"I deliberation Drake has the upside close present that, I anticipation helium wins this one, if helium doesn't, past there's different Super Bowl retired determination for Drake," Brown said. "I deliberation Drake volition spell down not lone being 1 of the champion that I've ever coached, but 1 of the champion to ever play."

UNC went 17-10 with Maye arsenic its starting quarterback, highlighted by an ACC Championship Game quality successful 2022 nether Brown.

North Carolina backmost Drake Maye (10) and caput manager Mack Brown locomotion the sideline vs. South Carolina astatine Bank of America Stadium connected Sept. 2, 2023. (Carlos Saavedra/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

In his archetypal play nether manager Mike Vrabel, Maye posted a league-best completion percent and was recognized arsenic an MVP finalist.

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North Carolina parted ways with Brown successful 2024.

"While this was not the cleanable clip and mode successful which I imagined going out, nary clip volition ever beryllium the cleanable time," Brown said successful a connection aft it was announced helium would not instrumentality to Chapel Hill for different season. "I've spent 16 seasons astatine North Carolina and volition ever cherish the memories and relationships Sally and I person built portion serving arsenic caput coach."

North Carolina aboriginal hired erstwhile NFL manager Bill Belichick.

The Patriots and Seahawks volition look disconnected successful Super Bowl LX connected Feb. 8.

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