Video: Aaron Rodgers, Drake Maye Embrace; Patriots Rookie Was 'Waiting for the GOAT'

New England Patriots rookie Drake Maye had a fanboy moment after Thursday's game against the New York Jets.

Maye waited on the field after the Patriots' 24-3 loss for Aaron Rodgers to wrap up his television interview with Prime Video broadcast crew to greet the four-time NFL MVP.

"I'm waiting for the GOAT," Maye said before embracing Rodgers.

Speaking to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald after the game, Maye explained he couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet his favorite player.

"He was my favorite player growing up. I had a phone case with Aaron Rodgers on it for like five years of my life. He was doing a press conference, and I was late getting back here, but just wanted to let him know I'm a big fan. Enjoyed watching him tonight even though it was against us. Still, always a fan at heart, first."

Adding to the special moment for Maye is he got to play in the same game as Rodgers. The first-year quarterback made his NFL debut when he replaced Jacoby Brissett for the Patriots' final drive.

The Patriots got down to the Jets' seven-yard line—their only time in the red zone all game—but the drive stalled when time expired after Maye was sacked. He finished 4-of-8 for 22 yards through the air and ran for 12 yards on two carries.

Just in case any Patriots fans might raise an eyebrow at Maye calling Rodgers the GOAT, he did refer to Tom Brady as the GOAT first after New England drafted him.

"Tom Brady's the GOAT. It's easy to say that. He's the best to ever play this game," Maye said in April. "I'm not going to be Tom Brady. I'm just going to try to be Drake Maye. And from there, just try to learn from him, get to know him a little bit. And other than that, just try to soak it up and be a sponge and try to learn all I can from him. He's the man in that town."

Even though the use of GOAT to describe multiple players defeats the purpose of someone being the greatest of all-time, the term gets used so frequently in all sports that it's really lost all meaning.

Rodgers has been playing in the NFL for almost as long as Maye, who was born on Aug. 30, 2002, has been alive. The Jets star is in his 20th season after being a first-round draft pick in 2005.

The age gap of 18 years and 271 days between Rodgers and Maye wouldn't be the largest for two starting quarterbacks if they are both under center when the Jets and Patriots meet again at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 27.

Brady was 22 years and 146 days older than Brock Purdy when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers squared off during the 2022 season. That is the largest age gap between two starting quarterbacks in a game since at least 1950.