Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports and one of New England’s most vocal fans, found a silver lining in the Patriots’ Super Bowl LX loss Sunday. His reaction centered not on the 29-13 defeat to Seattle but on quarterback Drake Maye’s tears after the final whistle.
The 23-year-old quarterback was captured by cameras visibly emotional, and for Portnoy, that image mattered more than the scoreboard.
The outspoken Patriots supporter posted his thoughts on social media platform X shortly after the game ended.
“This is all I needed to see. That my guy cares as much as we do. We’ll be back. Nobody expected us to be here. The future is still so, so, so bright,” Portnoy wrote in his post.
His perspective reflects what many in New England are feeling. Just 17 weeks ago, this team was coming off a 4-13 season. The preseason over/under sat at 8.5 wins. Vegas listed them at +8000 odds to win the Super Bowl. Most predictions ranged between six and nine wins. Some optimists pushed for 10.
Dec 14, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dave Portnoy poses with solders before the between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at Commanders Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
What happened instead was historic. The Patriots became the first team in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl after losing 13 or more games the previous season. They won 14 regular season games. Their .824 winning percentage marked their best since the 2016 Super Bowl LI championship run.
This is all I needed to see. That my guy cares as much as we do. We’ll be back. Nobody expected us to be here. The future is still so so so bright. #nepats pic.twitter.com/1An9zDuJsb
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) February 9, 2026
Maye’s Emotion Resonated With Fans Seeking Accountability From Young Quarterback
For Portnoy, Maye’s tears meant something specific. The quarterback wasn’t ducking responsibility or making excuses. He sat on the bench with his face buried in a towel while teammates walked past. Portnoy viewed this as proof Maye understood the magnitude of the moment.
The quarterback’s performance didn’t match his regular season numbers. Maye completed 27 of 43 passes for 295 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Seattle sacked him six times and recorded 11 quarterback hits. His passer rating of 79.1 was far below his season average.
But those struggles came after Maye finished second in MVP voting during the regular season. He led the league with a 72 percent completion rate and 8.9 yards per attempt. He threw 31 touchdown passes and ran for 487 yards. New England won 10 consecutive games during the season with him at quarterback.
The Patriots knocked off three opponents ranked in the top five defensively during their playoff run. They beat the Chargers 16-3 in the Wild Card round. Houston fell 28-16 in the Divisional round. Denver lost 10-7 in the AFC Championship despite playing at home.
The quarterback cared about the result as much as any fan sitting in the stands. That’s what matters moving forward as New England tries to build something sustainable again.
Leave a Comment
Share your thoughts and join the discussion