Meet the Pickiest Eater in the NFL—And the Surprising Reason It’s Made Him More Competitive

Drake Maye may be the future of the New England Patriots, but off the field, he’s not what you’d expect from a 6’4”, 220-pound quarterback. He’s a picky eater—so picky, in fact, that it became a running joke during his high school career. But behind the jokes and the barely-touched pregame meals lies a deeper story about discipline, focus, and an underdog mentality that’s helped Maye stand out in one of the world’s toughest leagues.

At Myers Park High School, head coach Scott Chadwick recalls watching Maye push food around his plate during team meals. “We used to tease him all the time,” Chadwick said. “I told him, ‘You’re not eating, you’re gonna play like trash.’” But Maye didn’t let the teasing faze him. Instead, he’d go out and dominate on the field, turning his so-called weakness into a quiet edge.

“He’s one of the most competitive kids I’ve ever coached,” Chadwick added. “It didn’t matter what it was—football, ping pong, or eating the least at dinner—he wanted to win.”

This unusual trait carried over to college at UNC, where Maye’s pickiness never affected his performance. If anything, it became a symbol of how he approached everything with intense intentionality. “He’s selective with food the way he is with passes—only goes for what matters,” one assistant coach once joked.

By the time he arrived in New England, Maye’s reputation for quiet competitiveness had reached the pros. And while NFL nutritionists tried to broaden his palate, his approach remained the same: control the controllable. What he eats may not be what others expect from a pro athlete, but it’s part of the routine that keeps him grounded.

Now paired with wide receiver Stefon Diggs—his childhood fantasy football favorite—Maye is living a dream. But don’t expect him to get adventurous with Boston’s famous seafood scene. “If it’s not chicken or mac and cheese, I probably won’t touch it,” he once said with a smile.

In a league obsessed with strength, speed, and stats, Maye’s quiet quirks are reminders that greatness comes in many forms. Even if it skips the salad bar.