TL;DR
- Journalist Colton Bradford goes viral after joking he’s “gay for Maye” on air.
- The moment happened among ecstatic Patriots fans in Denver before the AFC Championship.
- Fans praised Bradford for being genuine, funny, and reading the room.
- Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is a top MVP contender; the team is headed to the Super Bowl.
- The moment highlights how queer visibility in sports media can be joyful, bold, and hilarious.
Colton Bradford Goes Viral After Saying He’s ‘Gay for Maye’—And Fans Are Living For It
A Live TV Moment That Became Instant Queer Sports Lore
Sometimes sports reporting is about stats and strategy—and sometimes it’s about an Emmy-winning gay reporter declaring, loudly and proudly, that he too is “gay for Maye.”
NBC10 Boston’s Colton Bradford found himself swept up in a sea of fired-up New England Patriots fans in Denver ahead of the AFC Championship, and when the crowd started chanting their love for star quarterback Drake Maye, Bradford didn’t miss a beat.
“You know what? As a gay man, I also am gay for Maye,” he quipped—live, on camera, surrounded by screaming fans who immediately adored him for it.
It was chaotic. It was iconic. It was sports broadcasting with just the right level of queer sparkle.
Fans Respond: “Colton Is a Legend”
Once the clip hit social media, Patriots fans and LGBTQ+ viewers alike crowned Bradford the moment’s MVP.
“Reads the room, leans into it, keeps it light without feeling forced,” one fan wrote. “Crowd loved it, and it came off genuine instead of awkward.”
For a sport often stereotyped as testosterone-soaked and straight-coded, Bradford’s effortless queering of the moment felt like a breath of fresh, fabulous air. No tension, no awkwardness—just joyful, communal chaos.
Who Is Drake Maye—and Why Are Fans So Gay for Him?
Maye, the Patriots quarterback at the center of the chant, is having a shining season and is a serious contender for this year’s MVP award. And after the Patriots beat the Broncos 10–7 to secure their spot in Super Bowl LX, fans were undoubtedly even gayer for Maye than before.
The Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks on 8 February at Levi’s Stadium—and you can bet “Gay for Maye” signs will be visible from space.
Bradford’s Rise: From Alabama Radio to Boston TV
Bradford joined NBC10 Boston as an anchor in 2022, moving over from the station’s lifestyle show The Hub Today. Before that, he got his start at 16 on radio in Mobile, Alabama—a far cry from the raucous Denver crowds chanting slogans with him on-air.
Now, he’s not just delivering the sports news—he’s becoming the sports news.
LGBTQ+ Visibility in Sports Coverage Matters—Especially Moments Like This
Queer sports fans have always existed, but queer sports representation hasn’t always kept up. Bradford’s viral moment isn’t just funny—it’s meaningful. It shows LGBTQ+ people embedded in sports culture, not as an exception or a novelty, but as part of the cheering, chanting, beer-holding chaos of fandom.
Moments like this help break down the tired idea that queerness and sports sit on opposite ends of a cultural spectrum. Instead, it says: queer people are here, we’re loud, and we’ll chant for quarterbacks right beside you.
And sometimes? We’ll do it better.
With Bradford’s viral quip now immortalized online, the Super Bowl is poised to be a whole lot gayer—and a whole lot more fun.