Athletes' Moon Landing Doubts Draw Scrutiny
A New York Times guest essay revisited Josh Allen's 2023 skepticism about the 1969 moon landing, which Drake Maye echoed in October.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Basketball
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A New York Times guest essay by J.R. Moehringer, published Saturday, examines professional athletes who have expressed doubts about the 1969 moon landing. Josh Allen said in 2023 that the moon landing is up there for him and that he is still not quite sure he believes it wholeheartedly, stopping short of saying it did not happen.
Why it matters
The essay brings renewed attention to public figures voicing conspiracy-adjacent views on a historical event that NASA has long documented. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman responded on X, writing, "I quite literally have the receipts."
Apollo 11 landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, and six Apollo missions landed on the moon between 1969 and 1972, with 12 astronauts walking on the surface. The source does not detail the specific documentation NASA cites in rebuttal, and it is unclear whether Allen or Maye have since revised their statements.
The players
Josh Allen
Quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, whose 2023 comments on the moon landing were revisited in the essay.
Drake Maye
Quarterback for the New England Patriots, who voiced similar skepticism on WEEI in October.
Jared Isaacman
NASA Administrator who publicly responded to the athletes' comments on X.
The details
Moehringer's essay recalls that Allen, asked in 2023 whether he believed in any conspiracy theories, offered his moon landing remark. Maye was asked about conspiracy theories during an October 5 WEEI appearance, one day after the Patriots defeated the Bills 29-26, and said he is a little bit skeptical about the moon landing.
Timeline
July 20, 1969: Apollo 11 landed on the moon.
2023: Josh Allen made his moon landing comments.
October 5, 2026: Drake Maye made his comments on WEEI.
Saturday, November 14, 2026: The New York Times guest essay was published.
The Big Picture
The athletes' doubts run against the documented record of Apollo 11, which landed on July 20, 1969, and the six Apollo missions that followed through 1972. NASA's public rebuttal places the debate within a historical account the agency has long defended.
The debate centers on two quarterbacks whose public comments invite scrutiny of their judgment rather than changing game play or rosters. Readers who follow these players should note that the essay and NASA's response do not alter either athlete's current team status.
The takeaway
Public figures' offhand remarks on well-documented history can draw institutional responses, so checking primary records before repeating doubts helps readers separate speculation from evidence. The episode shows how quickly a casual interview answer can become a national discussion.
Further reading
Explore more Basketball coverage for context on the athletes behind this debate.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Democrat and Chronicle.
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