NEED TO KNOW
- New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye said getting married was “one of the best decisions” of his life while speaking with reporters during Super Bowl LX Opening Night on Monday, Feb. 2
- The NFL star and his wife, Ann Michael Maye, began dating in middle school and married in June 2025
- Drake’s team will face off against the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8
Drake Maye says getting married to his wife, Ann Michael Maye, was “one of the best decisions” of his life.
The New England Patriots quarterback, 23, tied the knot with Ann Michael, 22, in June 2025, capping off a love story that began in their middle school days in North Carolina. The couple started dating when they were 12 as seventh-graders. Throughout Drake’s high school and college football careers — he played for the University of North Carolina Tarheels from 2021 to 2023 — Ann Michael cheered him on from the sidelines.
Now, as he crushes his NFL career, she remains his No. 1 fan — and it seems the feeling is mutual.
Speaking with reporters during Super Bowl LX Opening Night in San Jose, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 2, Drake opened up about married life, calling Ann Michael “a blessing.”
“Getting married is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my wife,” he said. “Good things happen when you get married, and I think that’s the case so far in my life.”
Christopher Victorio/Shutterstock
“What a blessing it’s been to have Ann Michael, and to come home to someone who cares about my day. [I’m] able to hear something outside football. I listen to what she’s done today, and just knowing that there’s a constant in my life, and that’s my wife,” he continued. “Every day, I come home to somebody who’s herself and cares about me outside of who I am on the field.”
Drake went on to say that “there are so many ways that marriage has helped” him this year, before joking that Ann Michael is “the boss” and he has to make sure he picks up after himself around the house.
“I don’t take for granted how special she is to my career and my life,” he added.
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Ann Michael Maye/Instagram
During the Opening Night event, Drake — who was selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft — also reflected on his years-long journey with Ann Michael.
“It’s special. Starting in middle school, and her watching my middle school football games playing quarterback, to now getting a chance to watch me in the Super Bowl. I wouldn’t rather do it with anybody else,” he told reporters, per a clip shared on X by the NFL.
At a Jan. 29 press conference ahead of the Super Bowl, Drake praised Ann Michael for how gracefully she has handled the sudden fame that has come with being the wife of an NFL star.
“She’s got her own little journey that’s been awesome, being herself, and that’s the best thing about her and what I love her for,” he said, adding, “It’s been awesome to follow her journey.”
Drake and Ann Michael celebrated their wedding on June 21, 2025. They announced the news in a joint Instagram post featuring a series of photos of their scenic outdoor ceremony.
“What a night! Cheers to forever🥂I love you!” the quarterback wrote in the caption. Ann Michael commented on the post, “Best day ever!!!! I love you ❤️❤️.”
While his wedding may have been an off day, Drake couldn’t resist bringing a little football into the festivities. In a memorable moment that went viral, he and his tuxedo-clad groomsmen posed for a photo as they lined up in a football formation. Sports journalist Dov Kleiman shared the snapshot on X, writing, “What an awesome picture 🔥.”
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