Drake Maye was born on August 30, 2002. When he takes the field at Levi's Stadium on February 8, he'll be 23 years old—the youngest starting quarterback in a Super Bowl since Dan Marino suited up for the Dolphins in 1985.

That's not a bad comparison to have attached to your name.

The Quick Hit

• Age on game day: 23 years, 5 months
• Only younger: Dan Marino (1985, 23 years, 4 months)
• Playoff run: Beat top-5 defenses in all three games
• MVP odds: +235 (second behind Darnold)

One year ago, the Patriots were finishing a 4-13 season and Maye was taking his lumps as a rookie. Now he's about to start a Super Bowl. The NFL moves fast, but this is absurd.

The Playoff Path

Maye's road to Santa Clara went through three of the best defenses in football:

Wild Card vs. Chargers (5th in points allowed): Patriots won 16-3. Maye managed the game, ran when needed, and didn't turn it over.

Divisional vs. Texans (1st in points allowed): Patriots won 28-16. Maye showed more aggression, hitting key third-down throws while the defense dominated.

AFC Championship vs. Broncos (2nd in points allowed): Patriots won 10-7 in a blizzard. Maye rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown, going 10-of-21 through the snow.

The numbers won't blow anyone away—he completed just 10 passes for 86 yards against Denver. But context matters. In a snowstorm where both teams struggled to move the ball, Maye took care of it. No turnovers after fumbling six times in the first two playoff games.

The Learning Curve

"It's a new era," Maye said after the AFC Championship. He's not wrong. The Patriots haven't been to a Super Bowl since the 2018 season, Tom Brady's last title with New England. The six years between have been rough—playoff drought, coaching carousel, roster turnover.

Maye represents the future the organization has been searching for. The third overall pick in the 2024 draft looked overwhelmed at times as a rookie, but this season has been a revelation. Pro Bowl selection. All-Pro second team. And now a Super Bowl berth in Year 2.

The kid learns fast.

Historical Company

The youngest Super Bowl starting quarterbacks ever:

1. Dan Marino - 23 years, 4 months (Super Bowl XIX, lost to 49ers)
2. Drake Maye - 23 years, 5 months (Super Bowl LX)
3. Joe Namath - 25 years, 6 months (Super Bowl III, won)
4. Ben Roethlisberger - 23 years, 11 months (Super Bowl XL, won)

Marino never won one. Maye has a chance to join Namath and Big Ben as young quarterbacks who captured it all. No pressure.

The Betting Angle

Maye at +235 for Super Bowl MVP is interesting. History tells us the MVP almost always comes from the winning team. If the Patriots pull the upset—and they're live at +170 moneyline—Maye is the obvious candidate.

His stat line probably won't be flashy. The Patriots win by controlling the clock, playing defense, and not making mistakes. But if New England wins 20-17 and Maye throws two touchdowns without a turnover? That's enough.

For player props, look at his rushing totals. Maye has shown he'll run when needed, especially in tight playoff games. His over/under on rushing yards should be in the 25-30 range, and the over has value given how the Seahawks' defense plays.

The Bottom Line

Forty years after Marino became the youngest Super Bowl starting QB, Maye is about to break that record. The circumstances are different—Marino was already an MVP candidate in his second season, while Maye has been more of a game manager on a defense-first team.

But getting there matters. At 23, Maye has his whole career ahead of him. Win or lose in Santa Clara, the Patriots finally have their franchise quarterback. That's been the missing piece since Brady left.

Two weeks to prepare. One game to potentially change everything. The youngest quarterback in modern Super Bowl history is ready.