Patriots: Gronkowski Picks Drake Maye Over Caleb Williams

Rob Gronkowski has picked Drake Maye over Caleb Williams in the patriots vs bears quarterback matchup, telling Kay Adams on Up & Adams on Wednesday, October 21 that Maye would be his ideal quarterback. The New England Patriots visit the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday night, October 22, with both teams at 4-2. Gronkowski praised Maye's touch and his ability to process defenses, giving New England's quarterback the edge before the Thursday Night Football meeting.





Rob Gronkowski says Drake Maye would be his ideal quarterback


Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski made the choice on Up & Adams, per NESN. Asked which quarterback he would rather have, Gronkowski said, "If I had to choose a quarterback, this is tough, this is tough, it really is, but I'm gonna go with Drake Maye."


Gronkowski explained the pick in simple terms. "I just like the touch on his ball," Gronkowski said. "And I feel like at the end, Drake Maye would be, for me as a player, he would be the ideal quarterback." In one sentence, Gronkowski picks Drake Maye over Caleb Williams because of that touch, his processing, and the room Gronkowski believes Maye still has to develop.


Gronkowski did not dismiss Caleb Williams. The four-time Super Bowl champion praised Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and the fit between Johnson's offensive system and Williams, noting that a system has to match the quarterback running it.





The Patriots and Bears meet again after a nine-sack game in Chicago


Drake Maye and Caleb Williams first met as rookies in November 2024, when the New England Patriots won 19-3 at Soldier Field in Chicago. New England's defense sacked Williams nine times that day, making it one of the hardest afternoons of Williams' rookie season.


The draft history still frames every meeting. Chicago selected Caleb Williams first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and New England selected Drake Maye third overall. Thursday is the second professional meeting between the two quarterbacks, and both arrive with winning teams instead of rebuilding ones.


Maye threw three touchdown passes in New England's 26-19 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, October 18. Williams returned from a hamstring injury to throw for 305 yards in Chicago's win over the Atlanta Falcons. Neither quarterback is entering Thursday cold.


MORE: Patriots vs Bears: Caleb Williams vs Drake Maye on Thursday





Thursday Night Football at Soldier Field will test both young quarterbacks


The New England Patriots have won three straight games after a 1-2 start, and head coach Mike Vrabel takes a short week roster into Chicago. New England will be without cornerback Carlton Davis, who was ruled out with a neck injury, along with both starting guards from Sunday.


That context makes Maye's job harder in the Drake Maye Thursday Night Football spotlight. Chicago enters at 4-2 under Ben Johnson with a more experienced offense than the one New England overwhelmed in 2024, and Williams has shown he can extend plays when protection breaks down.


For Maye, Thursday is a chance to back up Gronkowski's pick on the field where the first meeting happened. For Williams, Thursday is a chance to replace that nine-sack memory with a home win over a direct draft-class rival.





Frequently asked questions about Patriots vs Bears


When is the Patriots vs Bears game?

The New England Patriots play the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, October 22, 2026, at Soldier Field in Chicago. Kickoff is on Thursday Night Football, with both teams entering at 4-2.


What happened when Drake Maye and Caleb Williams first met?

New England beat Chicago 19-3 at Soldier Field in November 2024 in their first professional meeting. The Patriots sacked Caleb Williams nine times, while Drake Maye quarterbacked the road win as a rookie.


Why did Rob Gronkowski pick Drake Maye over Caleb Williams?

Rob Gronkowski told Kay Adams on Up & Adams that he likes the touch on Maye's throws and Maye's ability to process defenses. Gronkowski said Maye would be his ideal quarterback as a player, while also praising Caleb Williams' fit with Bears coach Ben Johnson.


More Patriots



Sources:

https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-gameplan-maye-off-play-action-johnson-s-staples-and-key-matchups-in-thursday-night-football-vs-the-bears

https://nesn.com/new-england-patriots/news/drake-maye-and-caleb-williams-meet-again-one-remarkable-patriots-memory/ac51c12e0d9198720c246847

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