NFL safety Marcus Maye anonymously bought cleats for a Melbourne boy at a local sporting goods store on August 24, 2026. The purchase, made without Maye revealing his identity, has since sparked community interest in the retired NFL player’s quiet act of kindness. Chelsea Price, the boy’s mother, said she was stunned when the man she later learned was Maye approached her in the store. "He was so humble, he shook my hand but would only introduce himself as Marcus," Price told 321 Daily. "I kept asking him what he does and who he is, and he just kept saying he’s just someone that enjoys helping out the kids in the community. Very modest and quiet." Maye, a native of Melbourne and former Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy student, was recognized by Price only after she later saw news reports confirming his identity. The incident occurred when Price was shopping for new cleats for her son Tiemayne Lawson, who needed them after his old ones caused foot pain. Maye, who played for the New York Jets and Los Angeles Chargers during his nine-season NFL career, was in the store with his son. Tiemayne was wearing his Melbourne Bulldawgs jersey, number 50, which Price said may have caught Maye’s attention. "He was just excited they were buying him cleats," Price said. "He didn’t know who he was talking to." Maye, a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, has remained active in the Melbourne community since retiring from the league. Price said she plans to thank him in person, calling his gesture "a huge help" for her family. "It’s not every day someone like that takes the time to do something like that," she said. Maye’s visit to the store highlights his ongoing connection to the area where he grew up, though he did not comment publicly on the incident.