Maxwell Football Club Executive Director Mark Wolpert announced that New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been named the winner of the 67th Bert Bell Award, honoring the professional football player of the year. The award is named for professional football pioneer Bert Bell, who was one of the most influential figures in the history of professional football and a foundational architect of the modern NFL. A co-founder of the Philadelphia Eagles, Bell later served as NFL Commissioner from 1946 to 1959, where he championed competitive balance, instituted the NFL Draft, strengthened league governance, and helped professionalize the sport. His vision and leadership helped transform the NFL into a nationally respected and enduring institution, earning him induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In only his second season, Drake Maye firmly established himself as one of the league's premier quarterbacks, combining elite efficiency with steady leadership. Ranking in the top five in several major categories, Maye threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns while posting an NFL-best 113.5 passer rating, showcasing advanced decision-making, dynamic physical tools, and total control of the Patriots' offense.
His play anchored New England's return to the top of the AFC East, as the Patriots captured their 23rd division title and surged through the postseason to send the franchise to their 12th Super Bowl appearance. His steady command, late-game execution, and leadership set the tone for a team that consistently rose to the moment throughout the 2025 season.
In recognition of his outstanding performance and overall impact, Maye is the recipient of the Bert Bell Award. He was also named to the Pro Bowl and selected as a Second Team All-Pro by the Associated Press.
The formal presentation of the Bert Bell Award will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Tickets are now available for purchase at https://maxwellfootballclub.org/gala-tickets. The Maxwell Football Club will also present its other national awards, ranging from high school to the professional ranks, at the event.
ABOUT THE MAXWELL FOOTBALL CLUB – The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully vested in the community through programs to promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership. High school student-athletes around the country have an opportunity to participate in MFC leadership events, free of charge, through the generosity of our corporate partners, the NFL Foundation, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Coca-Cola Roxy, College Sports Communicators, Kirkland Printing, Omaha Productions, Quinco, The Seiler Group at Raymond James, the ETC Foundation, Vertical Raise, and SRA Inc. To learn more about our story, visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org.
