Drake Maye has quickly become one of the most recognizable young quarterbacks in the NFL. After being selected by the New England Patriots with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, much of the attention has naturally focused on his football career.
But away from the field, Drake Maye has another important part of his life. He is married to Ann Michael Maye, formerly Ann Michael Hudson, his longtime partner and someone who has been beside him since their school days.
The couple’s relationship goes back much further than Drake’s NFL career. They first met in middle school, attended school in North Carolina, later studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and eventually built a life together.
Drake proposed in January 2025, and the couple married on June 21, 2025, in North Carolina. Since then, Ann Michael has also developed a following of her own through TikTok, where she shares baking, crafts, fashion and glimpses of her everyday life.
Who Is Ann Michael Maye?
Ann Michael Maye is the wife of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. Before their marriage, she was known as Ann Michael Hudson.
She is a North Carolina native and has a long connection with Drake that started when they were both much younger. Their relationship developed over several years, eventually becoming a serious partnership during their high school and college years.
Unlike Drake, whose career puts him in front of cameras almost every week during football season, Ann Michael has created a more lifestyle-focused public presence.
Her TikTok account has become especially popular. She shares baking projects, crafting ideas, game-day outfits and other pieces of her daily routine. Her content has attracted hundreds of thousands of followers and has helped her establish an identity beyond simply being an NFL quarterback’s wife.
Drake Maye and Ann Michael Met in Middle School
One of the most interesting details about Drake and Ann Michael’s relationship is how far back their story goes.
The couple first met while they were in middle school. Ann Michael later shared a post looking back on their early connection, jokingly correcting the idea that their story began in high school by pointing out that they actually knew each other before that.
They attended William A. Hough High School together for a time, while Drake later transferred to Myers Park High School.
Their relationship eventually became public on social media. Drake made their romance Instagram official around New Year’s in 2020 with a photo of the couple.
By that point, the two had already known each other for years. Their relationship was not a sudden romance that began after Drake became famous. Instead, they grew up around many of the same people and experiences.
Ann Michael’s Connection to Football
Football has also been part of Ann Michael’s family life.
Her father played football at Wofford College, while her younger brother Tad Hudson became a quarterback at the University of North Carolina.
Tad and Drake had another connection because they were teammates at UNC. Tad served as one of Drake’s backup quarterbacks during the 2023 season before later transferring to Coastal Carolina University.
That made football an especially familiar part of Ann Michael’s world.
While Drake was building his reputation as one of college football’s top quarterbacks, Ann Michael was able to understand the demands that came with the sport from a family perspective as well.
Her support for Drake continued as he moved from college football into the NFL.
Ann Michael Maye’s Education
Ann Michael attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the same university where Drake played college football.
She graduated in May 2025 with a degree in business administration. During her time at UNC, she was also involved with the Kappa Delta sorority.
Her college years overlapped with a major stage of Drake’s football career. While he was becoming one of the most talked-about quarterbacks in college football, Ann Michael was working toward her own degree.
Her education in business administration also provides a useful background for her growing social media and lifestyle work.
Ann Michael Supported Drake Through His NFL Journey
Ann Michael has been with Drake through several major stages of his football career.
She supported him during his high school years, his time at UNC and eventually his move to the NFL.
When the New England Patriots selected Drake with the third overall pick in April 2024, Ann Michael publicly celebrated the moment and expressed how proud she was to have been alongside him through the journey.
For a young quarterback entering the NFL, the transition can be demanding. There is new pressure, media attention, travel and the expectation to perform at the highest level.
Having someone who has known him since middle school provides Drake with a connection to his life before professional football.
Drake Maye Proposed in January 2025
After years together, Drake took the next step in their relationship in January 2025.
The quarterback proposed to Ann Michael during a romantic beachside moment. He shared photos from the proposal on social media and expressed his excitement about spending his life with her.
The engagement came during a major period in Drake’s career. He was entering his second year as an NFL player after being selected by the Patriots.
For the couple, however, the engagement was about something much more personal. They had already shared years of memories before arriving at that moment.
Ann Michael and Drake Maye’s Wedding
Drake Maye and Ann Michael Maye married on June 21, 2025.
The wedding took place at the Grandfather Golf and Country Club in Linville, North Carolina.
The outdoor ceremony provided a scenic setting for the couple’s wedding. Drake wore a classic black tuxedo, while Ann Michael wore a strapless wedding gown featuring a lace-covered bodice and a tulle veil.
The couple later shared photos from the occasion with their followers.
Their wedding was another major milestone in a relationship that had started long before Drake became an NFL star.
Ann Michael Maye’s TikTok Career
While Drake has built his career through football, Ann Michael has developed her own following through social media.
Her TikTok content covers several different interests. Baking is one of her biggest passions, but she also posts crafting projects, outfits and other lifestyle content.
Her account has attracted more than 500,000 followers, giving her a sizeable audience independent of her husband’s football career.
Her popularity has grown because her videos often have a casual and approachable feel. Instead of focusing only on life around an NFL player, she shares hobbies and projects that viewers can relate to.
That has helped her build a personal brand rather than simply being known as Drake Maye’s wife.
Ann Michael Is Known for Her Baking
Baking has become one of Ann Michael’s most recognizable interests online.
She has shared recipes and videos showing off homemade treats, and her skills eventually led to an NBC Sports Boston series called “Beyond Bakemas.”
Her baking has even become part of Drake’s football life.
Some of her creations are delivered to the Patriots’ offensive line. Ann Michael has joked about the offensive linemen being regular recipients of her baked goods and even connecting the food to their job of protecting her husband on the field.
Drake has his own favorites among her creations, including her cinnamon roll snickerdoodles, Crumbl-inspired sugar cookies and Puppy Chow.
Ann Michael Maye and Life in the Spotlight
Being married to an NFL quarterback means Ann Michael has naturally received more attention.
She has even faced comparisons with Gisele Bündchen, who was previously married to former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Rather than taking those comparisons too seriously, Ann Michael has responded in a lighthearted way. She has acknowledged Gisele’s beauty and accomplishments while continuing to focus on her own life.
That attitude fits the image she has built online. Ann Michael appears comfortable being connected to a famous athlete without allowing the relationship to become her entire identity.
Drake Maye’s View of His Wife
Drake has spoken positively about Ann Michael and the way she handles increased attention.
He has praised her for being herself and continuing along her own journey.
That point is important because Ann Michael has developed her own interests rather than simply following Drake’s career. Her baking, crafting and social media work have become meaningful parts of her public life.
For a professional athlete whose schedule can be extremely demanding, having a partner with her own interests and ambitions can also bring balance away from football.
Final Thoughts
Ann Michael Maye’s story with Drake Maye is different from many celebrity relationships because their connection began long before professional fame.
They met in middle school, grew closer through their school years, attended UNC during an important period of Drake’s football career and eventually became engaged and married.
Today, Ann Michael is not only Drake’s wife but also a social media creator with a growing audience. Her baking videos, crafting projects and lifestyle content have helped her create a public identity of her own.
Her journey from middle school sweetheart to NFL wife has happened alongside Drake’s rise from a talented North Carolina quarterback to a leading young player for the New England Patriots.
As Drake continues his football career, Ann Michael remains one of the people who has known him the longest. At the same time, she continues building her own path, one recipe, craft project and TikTok video at a time.