Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was a 2024 first spherical, third general NFL draft decide with a reported $36.6 million contract—however you probably wouldn’t have the ability to inform it from the automotive he drives.
The 23-year-old nonetheless drives a 2015 GMC pickup truck that served him in highschool rising up within the suburbs of Charlotte, N.C. The truck broke down off of Interstate 95 in January 2025, however the burgeoning soccer star refused to half with the car—even on the behest of his highschool soccer coach, The Washington Submit reported.
“My mom’s always been on me about just staying humble and not buying the sports car,” Maye informed The Washington Submit in November 2025. “But it is tempting.”
On Sunday, Maye will play on the NFL’s largest stage on the sixtieth Tremendous Bowl, the place, even when he loses, he shall be assured a six-figure bonus—ample money to pay for a brand new automotive. He’s the second- youngest quarterback ever to begin the massive recreation (and successfully the substitute of Patriots legend Tom Brady). If he received, would change into the youngest in his place to take dwelling the Lombardi trophy.
Maye got here from an athletic household and as a freshman in highschool, transferred to Myers Park Excessive Faculty, the place he threw greater than 3,200 passing yards as a sophomore and three,512 passing yards as a junior—together with 50 touchdowns and simply two interceptions with a 72% completion charge. He performed faculty soccer on the College of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received the 2022 ACC Participant of the Yr award.
Regardless of his meteoric rise, Maye’s choice to drive a decade-old truck is reflective of the behaviors of a cadre {of professional} athletes and NFL veterans who’ve remained prudent with their earnings, at the same time as their internet worths skyrocket. Maye has an estimated $12 million internet value as of February.
The fast rise of athletes, notably in an period of ballooning title, picture, and likeness offers, has put monetary literacy on the middle {of professional} sports activities. By one estimation, 78% of NFL gamers expertise chapter of economic stress simply two years after retirement. Many athletes are talking out concerning the rising want for monetary literacy. Others are taking steps to make sure the salaries from their careers on the sector final them the whole lot of their retirement.
Odell Beckham Jr., an NFL broad receiver who received the 2021 Tremendous Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, stated after taxes and on a regular basis bills, even a multi-million payday can really feel smaller than contracts can recommend. Beckham didn’t play within the 2025 season.
“Can you make that last forever? And you always hear the people who ain’t us and ain’t be in the position, like, ‘Oh, that would last a lifetime,’” Beckham stated on an episode of The Pivot Podcast in October 2025. “Yeah, this job I sacrificed my whole life for, they are giving me that. I didn’t ask for the certain dollar amount or whatever. But we weren’t taught about no financial literacy…We weren’t taught this skill.”
Taking part in frugal soccer
Like Maye, a handful of former and present NFL gamers have by no means ditched frugal habits.
Former Houston Texans security Glover Quin continued to drive the GMC Yukon Denali he purchased in 2009 all through his NFL profession, and spent solely 30% of this paycheck, investing the remaining 70% through the first three years of his profession. He and his household lived on about $6,000 per 30 days, or $72,000 yearly.
Former Washington linebacker Ryan Kerrigan signed a five-year, $57.5 million deal in 2015, however discovered a roommate in his childhood pal Andrew Walker, The Wall Road Journal reported in 2016 earlier than he bought married in 2018.
“He makes most of his own meals,” Walker informed the outlet of Kerrigan on the time. “But, when he does splurge, he’s going to Chipotle.”
Even after NFL legend Rob Gronkowski took the recommendation of his contractor in 2014 to purchase Apple inventory, the previous Patriots tight-end—as soon as one of many highest paid within the league—lived on endorsement cash and would refuse to half together with his wardrobe gadgets.
“My ‘broke habit’ still is my clothing and shoes,” Gronkowski stated in a 2018 episode of the Kneading Dough podcast. “If I like the clothing, if I like the shoes, I’ll wear those shoes and I’ll wear that clothing down to the rags.”
