FOXBORO — The 12-3 Patriots had just two players selected for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games.

Quarterback Drake Maye and cornerback Christian Gonzalez are set to represent the Patriots at the Pro Bowl games on Feb. 3 in San Francisco during Super Bowl LX week. That is, unless the playoff-bound Patriots are playing in the Super Bowl.

Maye played in the Pro Bowl games last season as an alternate. This is Gonzalez’s first Pro Bowl selection, though he was named a second-team All-Pro last season.

Maye was the third-leading vote-getter for the Pro Bowl games behind Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Bills quarterback Josh Allen. He’s completed 70.9% of passes for 3,947 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions through 15 games, leading the NFL in completion percentage and with 8.7 yards per attempt and a 73.4 QBR. He’s also provided value on the ground, rushing for 387 yards and four touchdowns on 95 rushing attempts.

“Obviously, you want to play this game at a high level, and you want to earn the respect of your peers and your organization and around the league,” Maye said Tuesday. “And it’s a great honor. But like I keep saying, you care about winning and realize what the Pro Bowl is about. It’s obviously a great honor. Don’t want to put that to bed like it’s not a cool deal. It really is. We got some more important games ahead and looking forward to that.”

Center Garrett Bradbury said he didn’t want to hear any congratulations from his teammates over the honor.

“You guys know him. He’s all about the team,” Bradbury said. “He wants to win. He doesn’t really care about the accolades. He truly doesn’t. It’s not just a schtick. But that’s a tremendous honor. And so I’m proud of him. Everyone knows how special he is as a player, and we’re probably more happy for him than he is. And so definitely proud of him. And it’s just the first of many for him.”

Gonzalez has played in 12 games and has registered 10 pass breakups, 61 tackles and one tackle for loss after missing the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury. He’s allowed just 33 catches on 68 targets for 343 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions this season.

Among the Patriots’ biggest snubs was cornerback/punt returner Marcus Jones. The slot cornerback has been an all-around playmaker for the Patriots with 21 punt returns for 363 yards and two touchdowns. He has three interceptions, one defensive touchdown, 11 pass breakups, one sack, one QB hit, 61 tackles and six tackles for loss in 15 games.

“Got some alternates,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “I’m sure guys are disappointed. There’s five punt returners that had two touchdowns. I don’t know how many years that’s happened. Marcus has had a hell of a year, and I think he’s a Pro Bowler. I’m glad he’s our returner, and glad he’s helped us out. But sometimes that just doesn’t happen. We’re focused on wins.”

Bradbury, outside linebacker Harold Landry, tight end Hunter Henry and special teamer Brenden Schooler also finished top 10 in voting at their positions.

“I think it’s frustrating for me that guys that put in so much work to a great season, and they even have guys that are top of their position in their league, I think, respected around the league and viewed that way,” Maye said. “I think it’s just tough with how they have to try to give some to each team and part of it, but I can name numerous guys on our squad that I think were deserving, and don’t want to leave out anybody’s name, but I don’t sense frustration from the guys. I think that’s the cool part. They want to focus on the games ahead and what we can do this season as a team. And less worried about individual statistics and awards. And that’s what’s cool about this team, and what makes me want to be that way as well.”

Maye joked that he didn’t belong in the Pro Bowl games last year but still enjoyed the experience of being in Orlando with some NFL greats.

“I think obviously I was probably the last choice. They finally got somebody to go, so I went and was a rookie, and was like, ‘hey, it’d be cool to maybe try it out.’ It was definitely awesome being around the older players and veterans and quarterbacks. I was around Joe Burrow and Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson won (a Super Bowl). Got to spend time with him. And for me, it was time that was awesome. I was with Baker (Mayfield) and (Jared) Goff on the other side, and Sam Darnold, those guys, just get to know them, how they carry themselves.

“How they talk about their season and losing the playoffs and little things like that that is just invaluable for me as a young player, of what it’s like, and seeing how bad that kind of taste in their mouth was, and how bad they want to win, and just strives for what this league’s about, and that’s everybody gets to the playoffs and winning playoff games and getting to the big game.”

Maye certainly belongs this season.

Going into the 2025 season, it seemed slightly improbable that he would earn the honor, vying against Burrow, Allen, Lamar Jackson, C.J Stroud, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Aaron Rodgers, and others in the AFC. But he has the second-highest odds for NFL MVP for a reason this year.

Herbert joined Maye and Allen on the AFC Pro Bowl roster.