The North Carolina Tar Heels enjoyed their first bye week on their young, college football season over the weekend, providing players and coaches a much-needed reset.
In Sunday NFL action, though, several former UNC standouts shined. Two of those Tar Heels led their teams to victory, while one former Tar Heel encountered a rare, NFL occurrence.
Drake Maye, who starred as North Carolina’s quarterback from 2021-2023, led the New England Patriots to a 42-13 blowout victory over his favorite childhood team – the Carolina Panthers.
Maye was extremely efficient, completing 14 of his 17 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 11 rushing yards and another score on three carries. Maye’s final touchdown pass went to former Tar Heel Mack Hollins, who converted his only Sunday catch into a score. Hollins caught 20 touchdowns from 2014-2016 in Chapel Hill.
Omarion Hampton, who re-wrote the UNC record books in both 2023 and 2024, ran for 128 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries – while catching five passes for 37 yards. Hampton’s Los Angeles Chargers, which selected him 22nd overall in April’s NFL Draft, lost 21-18 to the New York Giants.
Javonte Williams, who ran for 1,140 yards and 19 touchdowns during the 2020 college football season in Chapel Hill, continued thriving as the Dallas Cowboys‘ starting running back. Williams ran for 85 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, while catching three passes for 15 yards, as Dallas tied the Green Bay Packers at 40 in Sunday Night action.
Four Tar Heels scored a touchdown in the NFL this weekend!
• Drake Maye 3
• Javonte Williams 1
• Mack Hollins 1
• Omarion Hampton 1— Great Day Tar Heel (@GreatDayTarHeel) September 29, 2025
Hampton’s Chargers fell to 3-1, Maye and Hollins’ Patriots improved to 2-2 and second in the AFC East, while Williams’ Cowboys moved to 1-2-1.
North Carolina returns to the gridiron this Saturday, October 3 for a 12 p.m. kickoff against preseason ACC favorite Clemson. Will we see any of Sunday’s NFL standouts back in Kenan Stadium?
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Former UNC football stars Drake Maye, Mack Hollins, Javonte Williams, Omarion Hampton all score NFL TDs
