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Drake Maye responds to Mike Vrabel rumor, makes firm injury statement
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Patriots' Drake Maye responds to report about rift with Mike Vrabel, makes firm shoulder injury statement

By Zac Wassink  |  Last updated Sep 30, 2026 4:37 PM ET
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On Wednesday afternoon, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel basically scoffed after being asked about a report that claimed quarterback Drake Maye was not Vrabel's "guy" and that there was a rift between the two amid the signal-caller's struggles this season. 

Following the Patriots' practice on Wednesday, Maye was also asked about that report. 

Drake Maye: Mike Vrabel is "one of the best football coaches I've had in my life"

"Coach Vrabel's been one of the best football coaches I've had in my life," Maye said, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. "I think one of the biggest things why this has been so enjoyable for me is playing for Coach, and I think we all feel that way in the locker room. He pushes us hard. I love playing for him, and it's not going to change, and it hasn't changed, and it won't change. The way he pushes me and coaches the quarterback in a way that I really respect, and I'm looking forward to getting going and proving to Coach that we can, I can lead this football team and play good football."

Earlier in the day, Vrabel insisted that one reason he accepted the New England job in January 2025 was "because Drake was the quarterback." The previous coaching staff scouted Maye before the club made the North Carolina product the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Drake Maye finally makes strong statement about shoulder

It was also reported this week that unnamed people within the Patriots were "befuddled" by the way Maye repeatedly danced around questions about whether the injury to his throwing shoulder had anything to do with why he ended Week 3 of this season responsible for a league-worst seven total turnovers. 

According to Sophie Weller of Patriots Wire/USA Today, Maye was asked whether his shoulder is impacting the decisions he makes or how he throws the football during games. 

"No it hasn't. And it hasn't impacted my decision-making," Maye said. 

The New England offense as a whole will attempt to produce its best performance of the season when the 1-2 Patriots play at the rival Buffalo Bills (3-0) this coming Sunday. As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had New England as a 6.5-point road underdog against Buffalo. 

Zac Wassink
X Muck Rack

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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