America 250: One Step – Armstrong’s Walk on the Moon
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” has echoed throughout history as the first words spoken by Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the Moon. On July 20, 1969, millions watched the historic moment as Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin walked on the lunar surface. They collected samples, took photographs, and planted the American flag nearly 240,000 miles from Earth. The mission was a major milestone in the Cold War space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Following Apollo 11, NASA completed five more successful lunar landing missions, the last in 1972. Armstrong’s first step remains one of the most defining moments in American history.
Add New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye to the group of Americans who are not quite sure the United States landed on the moon in 1969.
It’s been a heavily debated topic for decades, a conspiracy theory that began when Apollo 11 touched down on the moon and Neil Armstrong became the first man to step foot on the neighboring rock.
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Well, Maye, fresh off a massive victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, shared his skepticism about the situation during a Monday appearance on WEEI after conspiracy theories came up.
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Drake Maye of the New England Patriots looks on during warmups before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Oct. 4, 2026. (Getty Images)
“I don’t know about the moon, you know,” he said. “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 also revealed he took a conspiracy theories class at the University of North Carolina during his collegiate football days playing for the Tar Heels.
“They studied [Adolf] Hitler being alive and, ‘Are birds real?’ — some of the classic ones that you hear about,” he explained.
Maye’s comments began to make the rounds on social media to the point where NASA saw what the discourse was this time regarding its moon landing.
They had something to say to Maye.
“I quite literally have the receipts,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman replied under Boston 25 News’ post about Maye’s comments.
The moon landing conspiracy, for those who believe it, revolves around the claim that NASA and the U.S. government faked the moon landings between 1969 and 1972. Some even went so far as to say legendary director Stanley Kubrick was in on it.
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Jun 9, 2025; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) holds a press conference after minicamp at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha-Imagn Images)
However, scientists, historians and independent experts have dismissed the conspiracy as false on numerous occasions, pointing to NASA bringing back pounds of moon rocks that international laboratories, including the Soviet Union, analyzed and confirmed as lunar material.
Also, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured photographs of the Apollo landing sites from space, showing signs of rover tracks and astronaut footprints.
Finally, a secret this large would’ve needed to be held in place by over 400,000 employees commissioned to work on the Apollo program. What are the chances not one of them slipped up?
But it’s a conspiracy theory that remains in play even today despite the overwhelming evidence otherwise.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) speaks to media during Opening Night for Super Bowl LX at San Jose Convention Center on Feb. 2, 2026. (Kyle Terada/Imagn Images)
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One thing Maye is sure about is wanting to continue building momentum with the Patriots heading into Week 5 against the 3-1 Las Vegas Raiders at home in Foxborough.