Joe Mays (American football)

Joseph Lamont Mays (born July 6, 1985) is a former American football linebacker.[1] He played college football at North Dakota State and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Mays also played for the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers.

Joe Mays
refer to caption
Mays with the San Diego Chargers in 2015
No. 51, 53, 57
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1985-07-06) July 6, 1985
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:244 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:Chicago (IL) Hyde Park
College:North Dakota State
NFL Draft:2008 / Round: 6 / Pick: 200
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:246
Sacks:1.5
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Mays attended Hyde Park High School in Chicago, Illinois. He did not play football until his junior year of high school. He earned first-team all-conference honors in both his junior and senior years. He was named a first-team all-city selection as a senior in football after he made 115 tackles, 16 sacks, and two interceptions.

College career

As a senior at North Dakota State, Mays led the team on defense with 90 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks. He earned All-American honors and was named the Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Mays was a three-time first-team All-Great West Conference selection in his career. He made 285 total tackles, a school-record 159 solo tackles, 29.5 tackles-for-loss, three interceptions, and eleven sacks in his 31 games started and 43 games played in his career.

Professional career

Philadelphia Eagles

Mays was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round with the 200th overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft.[2] He spent most of the 2008 season inactive, but played in the last two games of the season on special teams.

On August 2, 2009, the starting linebacker for the Eagles, Stewart Bradley, suffered a season-ending torn ACL during training camp.[3] At subsequent Eagles practices, Mays was promoted to Bradley's position, middle linebacker, although Omar Gaither beat him out for the job.

Denver Broncos
Mays (51) looks on as teammates tackle Steven Jackson on November 28, 2010.

Mays was traded to the Denver Broncos in exchange for running back J. J. Arrington on July 30, 2010.[4]

On September 25, 2012, Mays was suspended for one game and fined $50,000 dollars by the NFL for his hit on the Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub that lacerated Schaub's earlobe.[5] During the Week 8 game against the New Orleans Saints, Mays fractured his fibula and was placed on injured reserve.

On July 23, 2013, Mays was released by the Broncos.[6]

Houston Texans

On July 29, 2013, Mays signed with the Houston Texans to a one-year contract.[7]

Kansas City Chiefs

Mays signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 12, 2014.[8] Due to an injury suffered in the Chiefs final preseason game, Mays was placed on injured reserve with a designated for return tag,[9] and was activated on November 8, 2014. He was released by the team on March 5, 2015.

New York Jets

Mays was signed by the New York Jets on April 13, 2015.[10]

San Diego Chargers

Mays signed a 1-year contract with the San Diego Chargers on October 20, 2015.[11]

Personal life

Mays earned a degree in physical education from North Dakota State. He and his wife, LaToyia, have one son, Jai, and one daughter, Joi.

References
  1. "Mays signs with San Diego, becomes second former Bison to be a Charger linebacker | INFORUM". Archived from the original on 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  2. "2008 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  3. "Report: Torn ACL could cost Bradley". espn.com. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  4. McPherson, Chris (July 30, 2010). "Eagles Acquire RB Arrington From Denver". philadelphiaeagles.com. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  5. "NFL Hands Mays $50,000 Fine, 1 Game Suspension". CBS News Denver. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  6. "Broncos release Joe Mays". ESPN News. 23 July 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  7. "Joe Mays, Houston Texans reportedly strike one-year contract". NFL.com. July 29, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  8. Chiefs Ink Abdullah, Mays & Linkenbach
  9. "Chiefs Sign S Kurt Coleman; LB Joe Mays to IR". KCChiefs.com.
  10. Lange, Randy (April 13, 2015). "Jets Add Joe Mays to Their LB Corps". New York Jets. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  11. "Mays signs with San Diego, becomes second former Bison to be a Charger linebacker | INFORUM". Archived from the original on 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
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