Entering Super Bowl 60, one of the biggest concerns among New England Patriots fans was Drake Maye’s shoulder injury. The injury, which was sustained on a scramble in the second half of the AFC Championship Game victory over the Denver Broncos, was downplayed throughout the two-week ramp-up to the game.
But when the dust settled on Sunday's 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, it turned out it was more than just a case of a player getting “banged up.”
Maye struggled in the Super Bowl, completing 27-of-43 passes for 295 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, but it was more of how his passes looked as the Seahawks dominated the Patriots’ passing game.
When asked about the shoulder injury after the game by Mark Daniels of MassLive, Maye said they had to “shoot up” his shoulder to play, but didn’t believe the injury hindered him. While that may be the case, Maye’s injury has turned into a concern that could linger into the offseason program as the Patriots prepare for the 2026 season.
Drake Maye’s Shoulder Injury was a Big Problem in Super Bowl Loss to Seahawks
Maye’s shoulder put a damper on what was an MVP-caliber season for the Patriots quarterback. He led the NFL with a 72.0% completion rate, 8.9 yards per attempt, and 9.46 air yards per attempt in his second year, also throwing for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while playing in all 17 games.
Yet, something didn’t seem right during the Super Bowl, averaging 6.9 yards per attempt.
While some passes sailed, the worst came as the Patriots were trying to come back in the fourth quarter. The play came when Maye targeted rookie wideout Kyle Williams on a crossing route, but he threw a duck that was behind his target and into the arms of Julian Love. The interception essentially clinched the game for the Seahawks and even drew a response of “I’ve got nothing for you here” from NBC broadcaster Cris Collinsworth on the NBC broadcast.
For a quarterback who not only completed passes at a high rate but was able to do so downfield, Maye’s throw was startling. What may not be surprising, however, is if Maye turns out to need a procedure after Sunday’s game that could alter his participation in the offseason program or training camp.
The chances are good that if Maye was able to play in Sunday’s game, there should be no worries about the start of the 2026 season. But any kind of surgery would be an inconvenience as the Patriots look to build on a strong year.
For now, Patriots fans will have to wait until the truth comes out in the coming weeks and hope that Maye didn’t do major damage to his shoulder during the Super Bowl run.