Josh McDaniels: Drake Maye doesn't have an issue with confidence or "yips"

Published October 1, 2026 08:48 PM The focus of the moment in New England is the stunning regression of quarterback Drake Maye. On Wednesday, both Maye and coach Mike Vrabel addressed the situation with reporters. On Thursday, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels fielded questions about Maye.McDaniels disagrees with the notion that Maye has issues with confidence.“I’ve played golf with him, pickleball with him,” McDaniels said. “I’ve watched him play football, and I’m not really sure what changes that for him. He’s blessed in that regard, you know? When I hit a tee shot in the woods, my confidence is shattered, you know, and then I’m gonna do it again and again and again. He doesn’t really do that. He can do that, and then the next one’s down the middle, it’s 340 [yards], and you’re sitting there going, ‘How did that happen?’ And I think his mindset is — and it’s the way you have to be as a quarterback. It’s not too dissimilar to being a cornerback. You know, when you say, ‘You gotta have a short memory. Yeah, you’re gonna give up a catch.’ And quarterbacks, you know, if you throw the ball enough, something bad’s gonna happen, you know? And yes, there are things that we can do better. Yes, there are things that we can work on to try to make some of the negative scenarios that we’ve had happen go away, you know, and that’s what he’s focused on, you know? But his demeanor, his countenance, his facial expressions, his ability to, interject things in the meetings has not changed, you know? And, you know, and I love that about the kid. I think, like I said, he’s blessed in that regard, because I think there’s, you know, there’s people that sometimes let those things weigh on them.”In that same vein, McDaniels said earlier in the session that Maye has “no yips.”But it’s one thing to shake off a bad slice, or an improperly pickled ball, when no one is looking. Thousands are scrutinizing every move Maye makes in person, and millions are watching on TV. The pressure is much greater at Gillette Stadium than it is at Bushwood Country Club.Whatever the source of Maye’s struggles may be, the coaching staff needs to fix it. Quickly. A loss on Sunday would put the Bills at 4-0 and the Patriots at 1-3. That would match their entire loss total from 2025.