In a shocking display of sportsmanship, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold chose not to shake hands after the Rams' 27-16 win in Super Bowl LX, leaving fans stunned.
According to eyewitnesses, Maye, visibly emotional after the game, appeared to be searching for Darnold among his teammates as they celebrated their victory. Video footage showed Maye looking around frantically before finally locating Darnold.
The absence of a post-game handshake is particularly unusual given the traditional display of sportsmanship that usually takes place on such occasions. In contrast to other Super Bowls, where opponents often meet at midfield to exchange words and gestures of respect, this year's ceremony was noticeably absent.
Maye, who had been emotional after the game, acknowledged the pain of defeat, stating that it "hurts" and that his team played poorly. Despite their best efforts, the Patriots ultimately came up short, losing to the Rams in a closely contested match.
The 23-year-old quarterback praised his teammates for their dedication and hard work throughout the season, but expressed disappointment at not being able to bring home the championship. "We left it all on the field," he said, "but we didn't play our best, and that's what happens."
For Maye, this Super Bowl loss marks a major milestone in his young career. At just 23 years old, he has already become the youngest quarterback to start the big game since Dan Marino in 1985.
It remains to be seen if Darnold and Maye will reconcile any time soon.
According to eyewitnesses, Maye, visibly emotional after the game, appeared to be searching for Darnold among his teammates as they celebrated their victory. Video footage showed Maye looking around frantically before finally locating Darnold.
The absence of a post-game handshake is particularly unusual given the traditional display of sportsmanship that usually takes place on such occasions. In contrast to other Super Bowls, where opponents often meet at midfield to exchange words and gestures of respect, this year's ceremony was noticeably absent.
Maye, who had been emotional after the game, acknowledged the pain of defeat, stating that it "hurts" and that his team played poorly. Despite their best efforts, the Patriots ultimately came up short, losing to the Rams in a closely contested match.
The 23-year-old quarterback praised his teammates for their dedication and hard work throughout the season, but expressed disappointment at not being able to bring home the championship. "We left it all on the field," he said, "but we didn't play our best, and that's what happens."
For Maye, this Super Bowl loss marks a major milestone in his young career. At just 23 years old, he has already become the youngest quarterback to start the big game since Dan Marino in 1985.
It remains to be seen if Darnold and Maye will reconcile any time soon.
what's going on with these QBs? I'm surprised they didn't just ignore each other, but instead searched for Sam Darnold. That shows a level of respect that's hard to find in sports right now. Interesting how the whole thing is still making waves. People are gonna be talking about this for ages 
I'm still trying to process wat happened 
after the game & then when he found him they didn't even shake hands? 
that's just not right 
it's all about respect & sportsmanship. I get that Maye is upset 'cause his team played poorly but he could've handled it better, imo.
they worked so hard all season & it's sad that they couldn't bring home the W 
. And can we talk about Sam Darnold for a sec? 
he's just a super cool guy, all like "we left it all on the field" 
I ship these two QBs! 
. Post-Super Bowl handshakes are like, a thing 
. It's not just about sportsmanship, it's about respect and class 
. Maye looks so hurt and angry right now, and Darnold just chillin' on the sidelines, no regard for his opponent's feelings 
. I mean, I know the Patriots lost, but still... 
. And what's up with this "we left it all on the field" nonsense? Can't a guy just admit defeat and move on already? 
The young QB is gonna have to grow up fast if he wants to survive in the NFL 
️.
maybe sam darnold just didn't feel like shaking hands after getting destroyed on the field 
still gotta respect the kid for owning up to their team's shortcomings and giving props to his teammates though 
omg i was so shocked when i saw that video of drake maye not shaking hands with sam darnold after the game!!! 
but still it was weird to see those two big stars not showing any respect towards each other 
he's only 23 and already has so much experience under his belt, i'm loving this young quarterback's vibe 
. Maybe this is a wake-up call for them? Maybe they can both reflect on what went wrong and try again next season 
- highest ever! But, did you see the stats on Drake Maye's career so far? 
He's been putting up some insane numbers this season, averaging 350 yards passing per game 
... and that 23 years old thing? That's a huge deal! 
. Losin' a Super Bowl's tough, especially when you're so close but not quite there 
.
. We're not just talkin' about some robots on the field, we're talkin' about people who feel pain and emotions like the rest of us 
It's the Super Bowl, for crying out loud! A little respect goes a long way. And what's up with the weird lookin' around frantically thing? Was he checkin' to see if his teammates were all good or somethin'? 
. I'm all for being emotional and expressing your feelings, but there's gotta be some respect involved, you know? Especially after something like a Super Bowl game. It's not like they were even close in the end 
. Maybe Drake was trying to send a message or something? Idk... it just seems out of character for both of these guys 
. It takes a big guy to be gracious in defeat, and I respect that about him