Drake Maye refused to join in on the “Superman” celebration with teammate Stefon Diggs during a pregame warm-up on Sunday. This marked a shift from earlier in the season when Maye had performed the iconic celebration himself and called Cam Newton his “favorite player growing up.”
The gesture is significant because it was a signature celebration used by Newton during his 11-year NFL career.
Drake Maye snubs Cam Newton’s celebration
The moment started when Stefon Diggs performed Newton’s “Superman” celebration during a handshake with Maye before the Patriots’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Maye shook his head and declined to participate, signaling a clear snub.
Show this to Cam Newton. Drake Maye will no longer pay homage to mid quarterback play. @CameronNewton pic.twitter.com/AUkStz4Zsy
— Pats Planet Media 🪐 (@patsplanetmedia) November 24, 2025
This interaction comes amid a public back-and-forth between Maye and Newton after Newton, now an ESPN analyst, called the Patriots’ 9-2 record “fool’s gold” due to their supposedly easy schedule on “First Take”.
“It has fool’s gold written all over them, cubic zirconia middle of the mall,” Newton said. “And, yes, is Drake Maye playing good football? Absolutely. I would like to attest his great play to one specific person that I know too well: Josh McDaniels. Now, Josh McDaniels may not be a great head coach, but he is a brilliant offensive mind.”
Maye responded to Newton’s criticism by saying,
“I don’t even know what show he’s on. I think they get paid to make remarks and make certain comments. So, I just worry about what people in our organization think, and worry about we think and what my teammates think. People are going to have different opinions. I’m just going out there on Sunday and worrying about ourselves.”
Newton doubled down on his remarks and went further by calling Maye a “liar” for his comments.
The playful jab by Diggs was an attempt to get a reaction from Maye, drawing viral attention when Maye noticeably refused to join the celebration.
This incident shows the tension between the former MVP quarterback-turned-analyst and the rising Patriots quarterback.
Maye’s refusal to replicate the “Superman” celebration is a clear indication of how their relationship has changed since the start of the 2025 season.
The Patriots, led by Maye, remain a top contender in the AFC, while this ongoing rivalry keeps fans and analysts watching closely.
Leave a Comment
Share your thoughts and join the discussion