New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye expressed skepticism about the 1969 U.S. moon landing during a Monday radio interview, stating he was "a little bit skeptical" about whether the event occurred as documented.
Maye made the remarks while responding to a caller’s question about conspiracy theories during his appearance on WEEI-FM (93.7) in Boston. The quarterback, who completed 22 of 37 passes for 269 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in Sunday’s 29-26 win over the Buffalo Bills, was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday. His comments came amid a resurgent performance after a slow start to the season.
Maye’s remarks
During the interview, Maye was asked which conspiracy theories he secretly believed in. After a brief pause, he replied: "I don’t know about the moon, you know? I think I can see back in the day why we would put on the mask if we went there, but I’m not really sure 200% if we went there or not. I wouldn’t say I’m leaning one way or the other. I just know I’m a little bit skeptical."
Maye, a former North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback, set school records in 2022 with 4,321 passing yards and 38 touchdowns, earning Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors. He finished second in last season’s NFL MVP voting to the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford.
NASA’s response
NASA has not issued an official statement regarding Maye’s comments. The agency’s records confirm six successful crewed lunar landings between 1969 and 1972 as part of the Apollo program, with Apollo 11 marking the first human mission to land on the moon on July 20, 1969. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin collected samples, conducted experiments, and planted the American flag during their 2.5-hour moonwalk.
The Apollo program concluded in 1972, and no humans have returned to the lunar surface since. Subsequent robotic missions, including those by the Soviet Union, China, and private entities, have provided additional data and imagery supporting the historical landings.
Historical context of moon landing skepticism
Skepticism about the moon landings has persisted since the Apollo missions, often fueled by claims of inconsistencies in photographs, lighting anomalies, and the absence of stars in images. Conspiracy theories have circulated for decades, suggesting the landings were staged or fabricated for Cold War propaganda purposes. These theories have been widely debunked by scientists, independent investigators, and former NASA officials.
Critics of such skepticism argue that the overwhelming body of evidence—including lunar samples returned to Earth, retroreflectors left on the moon’s surface, and independent tracking of the missions—confirms the landings’ authenticity. Proponents of the skepticism point to perceived gaps in public documentation and the technological limitations of the era as reasons for doubt.
Maye’s comments did not reference any specific conspiracy theories but reflected a general uncertainty about the event’s veracity. The Patriots organization has not publicly addressed Maye’s remarks.