1st Bill Belichick, now Drake Maye, UNC fans can’t catch a break from the NFL

Out of nowhere, the North Carolina Tar Heels and New England became inextricably linked. First, with Drake Maye being drafted to the Pats, then with Bill Belichick’s arrival in Chapel Hill. And just as suddenly, UNC fans have started taking it on the chin for their new NFL fandom. 

First, Belichick got snubbed from the 2026 Hall of Fame class, his first year eligible on the ballot after the Hall altered the five-year waiting period for coaches and made the selection process significantly more exclusive. That news leaked prior to the official announcement of the Hall of Fame class, with 11 of the 50 voters leaving the eight-time Super Bowl champion off their ballots. 

Then, on Thursday night at the NFL Honors, LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford won the NFL MVP over Maye. The 17-year-veteran took home his first MVP over Maye, who has led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in just his second season. Of course, the award is only for the regular season, and votes are cast after Week 18. Still, it stings the most fervent Maye believers, Patriots fans, UNC fans, and NFL media members alike. 

The 2026 NFL MVP went to Matthew Stafford over Drake Maye on Thursday night

Naysayers have flaunted New England’s easy schedule as the primary argument against Maye, who threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns with just eight interceptions while leading the league with a 72 percent completion rate. Stafford led the league with 46 passing touchdowns and 4,707 yards, but unlike Maye, was buoyed by an elite defense, the league’s most efficient run game, and arguably the best receiver in football, Puka Nacua. 

Nobody has made the case for Maye better than ESPN’s Mina Kimes, an MVP voter who essentially stocked Maye fans with enough ammo to make the case that the 23-year-old was snubbed. 

Many UNC fans took to social media to voice their displeasure with the voters’ decision, and North Carolina got ahead of it, calling Maye “An MVP for the people” on social media ahead of the NFL Honors. 

While it’s been tough for Belichick and Maye in award season, Maye still has a chance to take home the most important trophy on Sunday night in Santa Clara. If he does, it will almost surely be the start of a career that will lead him to the Hall of Fame. They may never have crossed paths in New England or Chapel Hill, but it’s looking like, even if it takes longer than expected, Belichick and Maye will both end up in Canton.