Former UNC quarterback Drake Maye delivered a spectacular performance on Sunday, leading the New England Patriots to a 23-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills. However, the young star’s achievement faced controversy due to an unexpected decision by Bill Belichick.
Ross Martin of 247Sports reported that Belichick, former Patriots head coach and current UNC coach, played a key role. He maintains a tense relationship with his old team after being fired in January.
An unexpected move at UNC
According to Firstsportz, the UNC Tar Heels allegedly received an unusual order that prevented them from publicly celebrating their former player. Belichick reportedly instructed the team’s official accounts not to post or retweet content related to the Patriots.
Despite this restriction, the Tar Heels later shared a subtle tribute, comparing one of Maye’s precise NFL throws with a play from his college days — nearly two hours after reports of the “silent order” emerged.
.@DrakeMaye2 pulling off some magic, where have we seen this before 🤔
🔟➡️8️⃣ pic.twitter.com/qTd8sqorsc— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) October 6, 2025
Scott Zolak, former Patriots quarterback and current 98.5 The Sports Hub commentator, harshly criticized Belichick. On Zolak and Bertrand, he said: “You won’t honor this kid on his national debut, but you can invite him to your camp in August for photos. This is pathetic.”
Zolak also highlighted the Maye family’s deep ties to UNC. Drake’s father, Mark Maye, played quarterback for the Tar Heels in the 1980s, and his brother, Luke Maye, won the national basketball championship in 2017. “That kid is family to this program. His whole family was there. If I were any other member of Carolina, I’d honor this. I’d tweet the hell out of it. What a sad state. So petty.”
Meanwhile, tensions between Belichick and the Patriots have also impacted current UNC players. The coach reportedly banned Foxborough scouts from visiting UNC’s facilities in Chapel Hill. On the field, the Tar Heels face a challenging season, with a 2-3 record and a 38-10 loss to Clemson in their first conference game.
