Man, what is happening with Drake Maye? Just a year after he was an MVP runner-up, the guy looks completely lost through the first three games of his third season. We’re talking a massive, shocking regression here, and his coach, Mike Vrabel, is out there practically pleading with him to just chill out on the field. This is not the start anyone expected, especially after the numbers he put up last year.
The MVP Runner-Up Is Suddenly Unplayable, And The Stats Don’t Lie
Think about it: last year, Maye was slinging it for 31 touchdown passes with only eight interceptions. His passer rating was a stellar 113.5. That’s MVP-level production! But fast forward to right now, just three games into the 2026 season, and it’s like a different dude is out there. We’re talking one, singular touchdown pass against a brutal six interceptions already. That passer rating? It’s plummeted to a dismal 58.6. Seriously, how do you go from one of the league’s best to this kind of freefall in less than a year? It’s absolutely wild. Sunday’s game in Duval was a 35-6 disaster, with Maye giving up three turnovers and failing to get a single touchdown. It’s painful to watch.
Vrabel’s Golf Analogy Shows How Worried The Coaching Staff Really Is
Vrabel went on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show and didn’t pull any punches when asked about Maye’s obvious decision-making issues. He didn’t just criticize, though, he actually gave a pretty telling analogy. He said, “I think quarterbacks want to make plays, I think they want to throw touchdowns. I think sometimes when Greg and I go golfing, we really want to make a good score, right? Sometimes we’re so focused on it, we try to choke the life out of the golf club, and we’re squeezing it so damn tight that the ball has no choice but to go sideways.” That’s not just a casual observation, that’s a coach saying his star QB is trying too hard, forcing things that aren’t there, and it’s making everything go “sideways.” Vrabel’s message is clear: “We need to stop trying to choke the life out of every single play. We need to relax. We need to settle in and go play football and not try to force things that aren’t there.” It feels like it’s gone beyond just bad decisions, too. It’s a full mental block.
This isn’t just a slump; it’s a full-blown crisis for Maye. From second in MVP voting to a coach telling you to “relax” and stop “choking the life” out of every play after three terrible games? The pressure is intense, and the numbers are just screaming for a turnaround. He needs to find that old self, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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