Drake Maye Names the Quarterback He Idolized His Game After, and It’s Not Tom Brady!

Despite starting for the Patriots, Drake Maye grew up idolizing Aaron Rodgers instead of seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

Drake Maye Names the Quarterback He Idolized His Game After, and It’s Not Tom Brady!

Drake Maye talks about his favorite quarterback while growing up (Image via IMAGO/X)

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Drake Maye was two years old when the Green Bay Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers 24th overall in 2005. In just a few years, Rodgers won a Super Bowl in 2011 and won his first of four MVPs the following year.

Rodgers went toe-to-toe with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, and a few other greats, and emerged as a champion. Regardless of his polarizing opinions, Rodgers inspired a whole generation of young players to master the art of quarterbacking.

Maye found himself on the same bandwagon. So, when reporters asked the 23-year-old to name the quarterback he idolized while growing up, Maye didn’t hesitate to mention Rodgers.

Kind of the first thing that comes to mind, as a young middle schooler who fell in love with… would be Aaron Rodgers. I was a big fan of Aaron Rodgers.

Drake Maye told the media on the first day of Super Bowl week in San Francisco

Drake Maye looks upto Aaron Rodgers

Maye got the chance to play against Rodgers in Week 3 when the Patriots hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers at Foxborough. The Steelers won 21-14 with Rodgers throwing 2 touchdowns and one interception, the same as Maye.

Got a chance to play him a few times. And, just how he has treated me. He reached out to me after the game. Such a special thrower of the football.

Maye added
Drake Maye Names the Quarterback He Idolized His Game After, and It's Not Tom Brady!
Aaron Rodgers (Image via IMAGO)

Rodgers, 42, led the Steelers to the playoffs before the Texans knocked them out. He finished the year with 327 completions (65.7%) for 3322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.

He’s got so much swag. It’s different when you see him in warmup, throwing the football, just how I have heard from teammates of his and coaches of his, and how he treats others and cares about others inside the facilities. It’s special.

Maye quipped

Rodgers gets a bad rap for keeping the media at arm’s length and his views on politics. In the past, he has targeted figures like Jimmy Kimmel and Travis Kelce for expressing differing opinions. That being said, Rodgers’ teammates always rave about the future Hall of Famer. For example, former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch once credited Rodgers for saving his football career.

Me and A-Rod then built a level of trust. A-Rod would do (expletive) like if you get a safety or a linebacker on you, I don’t care what the play was; run a go. He really put me in the mix.

Lynch said

While Maye will equal Rodgers’ Super Bowl tally with a win over the Seahawks on February 8. However, he will be the first one to point out that he’s a long way ahead to be in the same conversation as Rodgers.

As for Rodgers, he is currently enjoying the offseason and possibly making plans for the future. Whether that’s on the gridiron or off it, that remains to be seen. Mike McCarthy, the Steelers’ new head coach, expects Rodgers to step into his role for the 2026 season.

McCarthy coached Rodgers during his Super Bowl triumph, so he understands his line of thinking. He is willing to give Rodgers the space to make up his mind. If Rodgers declines to return, then McCarthy can turn to either Mason Rudolph or Will Howard.

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