Baily Zappe

Drake Maye is the Patriots' future; Zappe was a brief, turbulent present. Maye, drafted third overall in 2024, represents New England's long-term investment at quarterback. Zappe's 2022-23 run—marked by flashes of competence (that upset over Pittsburgh) followed by brutal stretches—showed he lacked the consistency or arm talent to anchor a franchise. Maye's ceiling is exponentially higher, though time will tell if he reaches it.

No, Bailey Zappe is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and almost certainly never will be. With 2,223 career passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and a 76.0 passer rating across 15 games, his résumé doesn't approach Canton standards. His NFL career was essentially a footnote—a fourth-round pick who got opportunities due to injury and circumstance, not because he earned a permanent starting job.

The search results don't provide information about Zappe's current activities in 2026 beyond his football career. As of late 2024, he was competing for a backup role with Cleveland after spending time on practice squads. Without current reporting, I can't speak to whether he's transitioned to broadcasting, business ventures, or other endeavors.

Modern passing-friendly rules might've extended Zappe's shelf life slightly, but not dramatically. His 59.9% completion percentage and tendency to throw interceptions (12 INTs in just 10 starts in 2023) suggest fundamental accuracy issues that rule changes can't fix. Even in today's pass-happy landscape, he'd likely remain a backup—a guy you'd call when injuries strike, not when you're building something sustainable.

This isn't a comparison; it's a punchline. Brady's 133.7 rating versus Zappe's 76.0 tells you everything. Brady won six Super Bowls and defined an era. Zappe won one meaningful game and threw more interceptions than touchdowns in his primary season. They both wore Patriots uniforms, but that's where the similarities end.