FOXBORO — The 12-3 Patriots had simply two gamers chosen for the 2026 Professional Bowl Video games.
Quarterback Drake Maye and cornerback Christian Gonzalez are set to characterize the Patriots on the Professional Bowl video games on Feb. 3 in San Francisco throughout Tremendous Bowl LX week. That’s, except the playoff-bound Patriots are taking part in within the Tremendous Bowl.
Maye performed within the Professional Bowl video games final season as an alternate. That is Gonzalez’s first Professional Bowl choice, although he was named a second-team All-Pro final season.
Maye was the third-leading vote-getter for the Professional Bowl video games behind Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce and Payments quarterback Josh Allen. He’s accomplished 70.9% of passes for 3,947 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions by means of 15 video games, main the NFL in completion proportion and with 8.7 yards per try and a 73.4 QBR. He’s additionally offered worth on the bottom, dashing for 387 yards and 4 touchdowns on 95 dashing makes an attempt.
“Clearly, you need to play this sport at a excessive degree, and also you need to earn the respect of your friends and your group and across the league,” Maye mentioned Tuesday. “And it’s an amazing honor. However like I preserve saying, you care about successful and notice what the Professional Bowl is about. It’s clearly an amazing honor. Don’t need to put that to mattress prefer it’s not a cool deal. It truly is. We obtained some extra vital video games forward and looking out ahead to that.”
Heart Garrett Bradbury mentioned he didn’t need to hear any congratulations from his teammates over the respect.
“You guys know him. He’s all concerning the workforce,” Bradbury mentioned. “He needs to win. He doesn’t actually care concerning the accolades. He actually doesn’t. It’s not only a schtick. However that’s an amazing honor. And so I’m pleased with him. Everybody is aware of how particular he’s as a participant, and we’re most likely extra blissful for him than he’s. And so undoubtedly pleased with him. And it’s simply the primary of many for him.”
Gonzalez has performed in 12 video games and has registered 10 move breakups, 61 tackles and one deal with for loss after lacking the primary three video games of the season with a hamstring damage. He’s allowed simply 33 catches on 68 targets for 343 yards with one landing and no interceptions this season.
Among the many Patriots’ greatest snubs was cornerback/punt returner Marcus Jones. The slot cornerback has been an all-around playmaker for the Patriots with 21 punt returns for 363 yards and two touchdowns. He has three interceptions, one defensive landing, 11 move breakups, one sack, one QB hit, 61 tackles and 6 tackles for loss in 15 video games.
“Received some alternates,” head coach Mike Vrabel mentioned. “I’m positive guys are dissatisfied. There’s 5 punt returners that had two touchdowns. I don’t know what number of years that’s occurred. Marcus has had a hell of a yr, and I feel he’s a Professional Bowler. I’m glad he’s our returner, and glad he’s helped us out. However typically that simply doesn’t occur. We’re centered on wins.”
Bradbury, outdoors linebacker Harold Landry, tight finish Hunter Henry and particular teamer Brenden Schooler additionally completed prime 10 in voting at their positions.
“I feel it’s irritating for me that guys that put in a lot work to an amazing season, they usually even have guys which can be prime of their place of their league, I feel, revered across the league and considered that manner,” Maye mentioned. “I feel it’s simply robust with how they must attempt to give some to every workforce and a part of it, however I can title quite a few guys on our squad that I feel have been deserving, and don’t need to pass over anyone’s title, however I don’t sense frustration from the blokes. I feel that’s the cool half. They need to deal with the video games forward and what we will do that season as a workforce. And fewer frightened about particular person statistics and awards. And that’s what’s cool about this workforce, and what makes me need to be that manner as nicely.”
Maye joked that he didn’t belong within the Professional Bowl video games final yr however nonetheless loved the expertise of being in Orlando with some NFL greats.
“I feel clearly I used to be most likely the final selection. They lastly obtained someone to go, so I went and was a rookie, and was like, ‘hey, it’d be cool to possibly attempt it out.’ It was undoubtedly superior being across the older gamers and veterans and quarterbacks. I used to be round Joe Burrow and Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson received (a Tremendous Bowl). Received to spend time with him. And for me, it was time that was superior. I used to be with Baker (Mayfield) and (Jared) Goff on the opposite aspect, and Sam Darnold, these guys, simply get to know them, how they carry themselves.
“How they discuss their season and shedding the playoffs and little issues like that that’s simply invaluable for me as a younger participant, of what it’s like, and seeing how unhealthy that sort of style of their mouth was, and the way unhealthy they need to win, and simply strives for what this league’s about, and that’s all people will get to the playoffs and successful playoff video games and attending to the massive sport.”
Maye actually belongs this season.
Going into the 2025 season, it appeared barely unbelievable that he would earn the respect, vying in opposition to Burrow, Allen, Lamar Jackson, C.J Stroud, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Aaron Rodgers, and others within the AFC. However he has the second-highest odds for NFL MVP for a cause this yr.
Herbert joined Maye and Allen on the AFC Professional Bowl roster.
