It was an electric scene at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, when the Patriots were celebrated by New England faithful — not to mention the Dropkick Murphys — before jetting off to Super Bowl 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Quarterback Drake Maye took the stage in frigid Foxborough, hyping up the crowd just two days after missing practice due to illness and injury.
“First off, man, I just want to thank you guys. You guys have been great all season. Man, wouldn’t be here without you guys. What a journey, and we still got work left to do. Shout out to these guys, love you guys,” Maye said alongside teammates, according to NBC Boston. “Celebrate when we get back. Go Pats, baby.”
Maye, 23, was showered with “MVP” chants while gracing the stage as he looks to cap off a sensational sophomore season with a Super Bowl title.
The Patriots’ third overall pick in 2024, Maye and the team — guided by first-year coach Mike Vrabel — have gone from worst (4-13 in 2024) to first (14-3) in just a season’s time.
Only the Seahawks stand in the way of the Patriots’ first Super Bowl triumph since 2019, when Tom Brady was still under center and Bill Belichick was on the sidelines.
Maye’s health has been a question entering Super Bowl week after the quarterback landed on the injury report Wednesday with a right shoulder issue.
The quarterback was not at practice Friday, with Vrabel explaining it was a combination of “injury and illness.”
“We’ve had a lot of guys over the last month or six weeks here with illness,” he told reporters. “Trying to do what’s best for the player and the team, trying to take care of guys, not spread anything.”
Maye said Thursday he’s preparing to go for the big game.
“I’m looking forward to be ready to go,” Maye told reporters. “This is the game you dream of playing in, so looking forward to getting out there and getting a chance to play in the Super Bowl.”
Super Bowl 2026 kicks off from Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8.
The Seahawks are favored by 4.5 over the Patriots, according to the FanDuel Sportsbook.