While Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals have long been eliminated from the playoffs, Bengals fans have found themselves watching another young quarterback’s rise with familiar feelings. New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has led his team to Super Bowl LX in just his second NFL season, prompting comparisons to Burrow’s early-career path after Cincinnati reached the Super Bowl during Burrow’s second year in the league.

Maye guided New England to a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, sending the Patriots to their first Super Bowl since the 2019 season. In difficult weather conditions, Maye completed 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards, rushed for 65 yards, and scored New England’s only touchdown on a six-yard run. The Patriots leaned heavily on defense and ball control, but Maye’s ability to manage the game and make key plays proved decisive.

That accomplishment has drawn comparisons to Burrow, who led the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI following the 2021 season, also his second year in the league. Cincinnati ultimately lost that Super Bowl to the Los Angeles Rams, but Burrow’s rapid rise reshaped expectations for the franchise and reset its trajectory.

Maye’s second-season numbers help explain why the comparisons have gained traction. During the 2025 regular season, Maye completed 354 of 492 passes for 4,394 yards, throwing 31 touchdowns with eight interceptions. He added 450 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on 103 carries. He finished the season with a 72 percent completion rate, the highest in the league, and a 113.5 passer rating, all among the best marks in the NFL.

Burrow’s second season in 2021 featured a similar leap. He threw for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns, leading Cincinnati to an AFC North title and a Super Bowl appearance. That success came one year after a difficult rookie season in 2020, when the Bengals finished 4-11-1 and Burrow went 2-7-1 as a starter before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

The early career arcs show parallels but also differences. Maye inherited a Patriots team coming off a 4-13 season and immediately elevated the offense with efficiency and mobility. Burrow’s impact was more explosive through the air, but both quarterbacks quickly became the focal point of their franchises.

Burrow’s Super Bowl run ultimately ended in defeat, but it marked the start of sustained contention for Cincinnati before injuries and roster turnover altered the path.

Maye now has the opportunity Burrow did not: a chance to win a championship in his second season.