For one Hernando County family, this year’s Super Bowl carried a little extra meaning. Jack Maye Jr. moved with his family from Charlotte, North Carolina, a couple of years ago, drawn by a quieter pace and a place that still feels like a community. On Super Bowl Sunday, Jack watched the game from his living room, surrounded by family, trying to stay as calm as he usually is during big games. But this one was different. On the field was his uncle’s grandson, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, playing on the biggest stage in football.
Watching him out there, knowing the work, the years, and the pressure behind that moment, the pride set in before the opening kickoff ever came. “Seeing him out there on that stage and knowing the work he’s put in over the years still hits you in a way that’s hard to describe,” Jack said. “You’re proud before the game even starts.” Despite the loss at the Super Bowl, Jack said Drake showed the same poise and competitiveness he’s known for, something he credits to the way his parents, Mark and Aimee Maye, raised their sons Drake, Luke, Cole and Beau. “You can see their influence in the way Drake handles pressure and carries himself on and off the field,” Jack said.
Sports run deep in the Maye family. Drake’s father, Mark Maye, earned a Morehead Scholarship and played quarterback at the University of North Carolina. Drake followed that path, starting three seasons as quarterback for the Tar Heels before being drafted by the New England Patriots in 2024. Drake’s three older brothers also made their mark in college sports. The oldest, Luke Maye, played basketball at North Carolina from 2015 to 2019 and was part of the Tar Heels‗ 2017 national championship team. He went on to play basketball internationally. Cole Maye played baseball for the Florida Gators and won an NCAA title with the program in 2017, and Beau Maye also played basketball for North Carolina during the 2022–‣ season.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
