Drake Maye has been one of the standout players in the NFL this season and is currently the favorite to win the MVP award after leading the New England Patriots to a 9-2 record
05:27 ET, 17 Nov 2025Updated 05:27 ET, 17 Nov 2025
Greg Olsen
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Greg Olsen has used Drake Maye as an example of why high school athletes should take up more than one sport
Former NFL star and current analyst Greg Olsen has shared a throwback photo of Drake Maye playing high school basketball, encouraging students to participate in multiple sports.
The New England Patriots quarterback is currently delivering some of his career-best performances and is being considered for the MVP award after helping Mike Vrabel's team secure nine wins in their first 11 games this season.
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When asked about his exceptional form this season, Maye credited Vrabel and his teammates after leading the Patriots to another victory on Thursday night, their eighth consecutive win. However, he remained modest when asked about the "MVP" chants from fans.
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Despite this, Maye has positioned himself as a strong contender for this season's MVP award. Olsen seized this opportunity to encourage high school students not to limit themselves to one sport.
To emphasize his point, the former two-time All Pro tight end posted a photo on social media showing Maye during his high school days, playing for the basketball team at Myers Park in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Adding intrigue to the photo is the presence of seven-time national champion Nick Saban and his then-offensive coordinator at Alabama, Steve Sarkisian, in the stands behind Maye, having come to watch the young athlete perform on the court.
"Dear young athletes- keep this photo saved to your phone and show the next person who says you have to focus on one sport in HS," Olsen wrote on X.
Drake Maye
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Maye credited his teammates as the reason behind his success this season
"The amount of kids I've heard say 'I can't risk getting hurt' or 'my coach won't let me' drives me crazy. You get one shot to be a HS athlete."
Ultimately, Maye decided to focus on football rather than basketball, and that choice is now paying off as he establishes himself as a potential NVP candidate in the NFL.
Yet his basketball abilities, which led to All-Conference and All-District recognition during his junior year of high school, have clearly influenced the type of football player he has become.
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Without competing in both sports at the same time, the trajectory for the 23 year old might have looked very different, which is precisely the message Olsen aims to convey through his X post.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes serves as another excellent illustration of the benefits of multi-sport participation in high school, as he attributes his development into an elite NFL signal-caller to his experience in baseball and basketball.
Mahomes, who initially dreamed of following in the footsteps of his father Pat, a Major League Baseball pitcher, has since captured two MVP trophies and three Super Bowl championships, along with numerous other accolades, throughout his professional football career.