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Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and current quarterback Drake Maye were recently spotted together in a viral photo.

It’s not a secret that the end of the Bill Belichick tenure with the New England Patriots got pretty awkward. Since then, it’s safe to say that he and the team have been distanced. So, when he recently appeared in a photo alongside current quarterback Drake Maye, it was bound to go viral.

Vaughn Moore, the Chairman and CEO of AIT Worldwide Logistics, posted the photo to Instagram. There, Belichick and Maye can be seen standing near one another at the 5th Annual Heels at the Rabbit Hole Spring Event.

“Our 5th Annual Heels at the Rabbit Hole Spring Event brought together an incredible community in support of local kids, and the impact was felt in every moment. From cocktail hour and conversation to a powerful program and high-energy auction, this night was a true reflection of what’s possible when people come together with purpose,” the caption read in part.

“We were honored to hear from Sam Howell @sam7howell and Drake Maye @drake.maye, and grateful to welcome special guests including Bill Belichick @billbelichick, Michael Malone, and Michael Lombardi @mlombardinfl in support of this mission.
Thanks to generous matching gifts from Vaughn Moore @wvaughnmoore and longtime TABLE supporter Geoff Scott @geoffscott100 we unlocked a combined $700,000 match and raised over $1 million to help feed local kids in Orange County. That’s enough to sustain more than 600 children for an entire year!”

There is obviously a North Carolina connection here that led to this meet up. Belichick is the head coach there and Maye played his college football for the Tar Heels. It was also for a good cause, as Table NC was involved with the event. Still, given the tensions Belichick has had with the Patriots, it was a unique sight.

Bill Belichick Has Disassociated From the New England Patriots with the North Carolina Tar Heels

As the head coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick won six Super Bowls, 266 regular-season games, and 30 postseason games. There was plenty of tension at the end, though, as Belichick was effectively forced out before he was ready to go on his own terms.

In just his first season as the North Carolina Tar Heels head coach, Belichick made it clear that he is no longer tied to the Patriots organization. He did that by banning Patriots scouts from the North Carolina facilities, a move that is simply not done by colleges. Still, when Belichick was asked about that, he was blunt.

“It’s clear I’m not welcome there at their facility,” Belichick said. “So they’re not welcome at ours. Very simple.”

At the time, it came across as a petty decision by Belichick, but it was important in demonstrating just how strained his relationship had become with the Patriots. That was, of course, further made awkward by Drake Maye, who was a star for the previous North Carolina head coach, Mack Brown, having his breakout season in New England.

After the incident with scouts, it was reported that Belichick banned promoting the Patriots. That also meant not promoting Drake Maye. Again, this is extremely strange for a college program, which can use a star quarterback as a recruitment tool. So, to see them standing together for a photo is a seismic shift in tone.

Bill Belichick Likely Would Not Have Selected Drake Maye

The Patriots used the third overall pick on Drake Maye in the Spring after Bill Belichick and the team parted ways. By then, it was obvious they needed to move on from Mac Jones. However, had Belichick still been there, he likely would have gone in another direction.

Belichick actually appeared on the NFL Draft broadcast. There, he was fairly critical of Maye as a quarterback prospect.

“A very talented kid,” Belichick said. “Good size, runs well, has a good arm. He just hasn’t played very much. He really doesn’t have a lot of experience. He makes some big plays … He’s going to need some work in reading defenses, reading coverages.”

The note that Maye lacked experience wasn’t a fair one. He had been a two-year starter at North Carolina. Belichick would also go on to be critical of Maye’s footwork.

“Drake Maye, his footwork needs a lot of work. Here, he’s all over the place. Never resets his feet. Never really gets in position to throw. Gets strip-sacked. Too much hopping around. Step up and throw.

Every quarterback has their faults and needs time to develop in the NFL. However, the way Belichick presented his criticisms made it seem to many like he would have gone in another direction, which would now look like a major mistake.