NFL New England Patriots quarterback, Drake Maye (left), and Army veteran Matt Jabaut (right), pose with two Super Bowl LIX tickets on Jan. 8, 2025, at American Legion Post 17 in Portland, Maine. (USAA)

Super Bowl LIX is around the corner, and a well-deserving Army veteran will have a chance to experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity thanks to a special visit by New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who surprised the veteran with the exciting news.

Matt Jabaut, a member of The American Legion in Portland, Maine, was “shocked, excited and in disbelief,” he told Stars and Stripes on Monday.

Maye traveled to American Legion Post 17 in Portland on Jan. 8 and surprised Jabaut — a longtime fan of the Patriots — with two tickets to “America’s Game.”

The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will meet Feb. 9 in New Orleans. The Chiefs are looking for their third consecutive Super Bowl victory.

“I can’t thank USAA, the NFL and The [American] Legion enough. … I’m super excited and super appreciative of the opportunity. It has been a heck of a ride already, and we haven’t gotten down there yet. I’m definitely looking forward to it,” he said.

After the surprise by Maye, Jabaut took the NFL player on a tour around the storied Maine post and shared with him the history of the organization. They also passed a football around outside which Maye autographed and let Jabaut keep.

“Knowing my grandfather served, I have so much respect and gratitude for the men and women who’ve served our country, like Sgt. Jabaut,” Maye said. “I’m so excited to have teamed up with USAA and The American Legion to gift Matt this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I’m looking forward to seeing him again in New Orleans.”

Jabaut will meet with Maye in-person again on Feb. 8 at USAA’s Salute to Service Lounge — an activation space exclusively for the military and their families — located within the Super Bowl Experience in New Orleans. He will share the game-day experience with his fiancée, who is a Navy veteran.

“She’s been the one that supported me over the last decade in doing the Legion stuff, so it only makes sense that she would come and enjoy this experience as well,” Jabaut said.

After serving as a combat medic in the Army for eight years and achieving the rank of sergeant, Jabaut joined The American Legion in 2012. He is currently chairman of the Legion’s Veterans Employment & Education Commission in Topsham.

Jabaut will be recognized at the game as part of USAA’s Salute to Service program. He says, “I am appreciative of the ability and recognition of the work I’ve done thus far, and I can play that part to represent the Legion Maine on that kind of stage and all the great work we do.”

USAA has coordinated similar efforts with other NFL players and military members this year. So far, former and current NFL players Rob Gronowski, Josh Jacobs and Micah Parsons have announced that they will each be sending two special military guests to Super Bowl LIX.

“I think that it’s a great thing to show on a broader stage how much good we all do to help the veteran community, the rest of our communities and to support our military service members that are still serving today,” Jabaut said.

NFL New England Patriots quarterback, Drake Maye (left), and Army veteran Matt Jabaut (right), pose with two Super Bowl LIX tickets on Jan. 8, 2025 at American Legion Post 17 in Portland, Maine. (USAA)