Patriots

Tom Brady’s Ex-QB coach shares one way Drake Maye is similar to Patriots legend

"He processes information extremely well, a lot like Peyton. He has a humbleness and a humility like Tom."

By Khari Thompson

May 3, 2024

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Clyde Christensen has coached both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

He was the Colts’ offensive coordinator at the end of Manning’s time in Indianapolis and the Buccaneers’ quarterbacks coach when Tom Brady won the Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.

Last year, Christiansen got an up-close look at new Patriots quarterback Drake Maye while serving as a volunteer offensive analyst at the University of North Carolina.

Christensen said Maye has a long way to go before he can be compared to Brady or Manning, but there were a couple of traits that reminded him of each of them.

“You hate to even talk about (Maye) in those sentences with those guys because of the longevity — how they performed so well for so long — but I think he has a lot of the same traits that give you a chance to be great,” Christensen said per MassLive’s Chris Mason.

The Patriots selected Maye No. 3 overall in last month’s draft, and are betting on him to be the next face of their franchise. Coach Jerod Mayo said earlier this week that he expects his legacy to be tied with Maye’s for a long time.

Christensen listed a few of the things Maye will need to turn those expectations into reality.

“You need some luck. You need to stay healthy,” Christensen said. “You need some teammates. You need a lot of things to go with it. But he processes information extremely well, a lot like Peyton. He has a humbleness and a humility like Tom that players play for him.”

“He has that kind of humility that just attracts teammates,” Christensen added. “He’s going to be a great teammate. There’s nobody in our (North Carolina) locker room who you’d find (with) a bad word about him. He just fits in. He’s one of the guys. Yet is able to lead and rally people together and call people out if (he) needs to — but he does it in a good way.”

According to Christensen, Maye has a  “Brady-like ability” to rally teammates.

“I think he does have that awareness of what’s going on around, which is huge,” Christensen said. “It’s a huge thing to have. When do you jump on the offensive line? When do you just try to build them up? When do you give the receivers a kick in the butt? When do you hug them up? He does have a knack for that. An awareness of when and where and how that’s huge.”