Ann Michael Maye’s status as Queen of the North has left her family in awe.
The wife of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye told content creator Hallie Batchelder, who joined her on her Beyond Bakemas YouTube series, about a humorous phone call she got from her grandma.
“My grandma called me one day and was like, ‘Did you know you’re the Queen of New England?’” Ann Michael, 22, said. (She has also been dubbed First Lady of New England.)
“She said, ‘What are your responsibilities?’” Ann Michael continued. “I’m like, ‘I’m not an actual queen.’”
As Drake, 23, led the Patriots through his first season as a starter, culminating in a trip to the Super Bowl, Ann Michael went from football WAG to outright celebrity, helped in part by her wholesome social media content and enthusiastic support for her husband.
“She’s got her own little journey that’s been awesome,” Drake marveled about Ann Michael in a January press conference. “Being herself, that’s the best thing about her and what I love her for.”
Drake and Ann Michael have known each other since middle school, with Ann Michael following him to the University of North Carolina, where he was the Tar Heels’ quarterback. When the Patriots selected Drake in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Huntsville, North Carolina, native moved north.
“It’s been awesome to follow her journey,” Drake continued. “I know [I] was looking forward to her getting up here. After we got married, she came up here and had never lived up north.”
He added, “[She] had never seen this much snow on the ground, so obviously it was an adjustment for her. She’s loved it, she’s loved the people up here, living up here [and] she loves the support. She’s got her own little journey that’s been awesome, being herself and that’s the best thing about her and what I love her for.”
The Patriots’ 2025-26 championship hopes ultimately fell short in a 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on February 8. A few days later, Ann Michael reflected on the season with a post via Instagram.
“Not how we wanted it to end but still thanking God for this incredible season❤️,” she wrote in the caption. “We are blessed to be surrounded by such an amazing group of people, who made this season what it was. This is only the beginning!!”
Throughout the season, Ann Michael endeared herself to more than just the Patriots fans. Drake’s teammates also became proud subjects to the Queen of the North thanks to Ann Michael’s routine of baking for them.
“The O-line is, like, the main recipients of my baked goods,” she told NBC Sports Boston in January. “Occasionally, they’ll write me a thank you note. It’s so funny, it’s, like, ‘Just keep feeding us. We need to protect your husband, so we need to keep on the extra weight. If you need a bodyguard, we’ll be your bodyguard.’”
Of course, she bakes for Drake as well.
“Drake loves sweets, so that’s been pretty good,” she said. “He really liked these peppermint sugar cookies with a vanilla icing that had a touch of peppermint in it.”
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