New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye may be one of the NFL’s brightest young stars, but the 23-year-old says football doesn’t define his ultimate purpose.

For Maye, that purpose comes from his Christian faith and a desire to use his growing platform to point others toward Jesus Christ.

“I think the biggest thing is using my platform to spread the Word and spread the Good News,” Maye told Relevant magazine.

Maye entered the national spotlight after a standout career at the University of North Carolina before the Patriots selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. As his profile has grown, so has the attention surrounding his life away from the field.

But Maye draws a clear distinction between the game he loves and what he believes God has called him to do.

“My passion is football, and my purpose is being a believer and strong in my faith,” he said.

Maye has remained connected to other Christians within the Patriots organization, attending team chapel services, reading Scripture and building relationships with fellow believers.

That foundation has also helped him keep football in perspective. In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, Maye told Sports Spectrum that remembering there is something bigger than the game has given him a place to turn when the pressures of football become overwhelming.

“Knowing that [God’s Word is] bigger than football has been such a thing for me to lean on and take my thoughts away from football and know that this is my purpose and this is why I’m here on this stage today,” Maye said.

And he isn’t shy about what he believes that purpose involves.

“Being able to shine a light on others and get them to follow Jesus Christ is what I’m here for and what God put me here to do,” he added.

Maye joins a long line of high-profile athletes who have spoken openly about their Christian faith while competing at the highest levels of sports. But for the Patriots quarterback, faith isn’t simply something he adds to his football career.

It’s the lens through which he views it.

As Maye’s NFL career continues to unfold, his message is straightforward: Football may be the passion that put him on a national stage, but he believes following Christ is the reason he’s there.