| No. 53 –Seattle Seahawks | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | (1998-11-30)November 30, 1998 (age 26) Golden Valley, Minnesota, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 261 lb (118 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Hopkins(Minnetonka, Minnesota) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Minnesota (2017–2021) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2022: 2nd round, 40th pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2024 | |||||||||||||
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Boye Mafe (born November 30, 1998) is an American professionalfootballlinebacker for theSeattle Seahawks of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theMinnesota Golden Gophers.
Mafe's parents, Wale and Bola, came to the United States fromNigeria.[1] Mafe grew up inGolden Valley, Minnesota and attendedHopkins High School inMinnetonka, Minnesota.[2] As a senior he was named All-Metro after recording 78 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks.[3][4]
Maferedshirted his true freshman season.[5] As a redshirt sophomore he recorded 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks.[6] Mafe was named honorable mentionAll-Big Ten Conference after recording 27 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and 4.5 sacks with two passes defended and two forced fumbles in six games played in the team'sCOVID-19-shortened2020 season.[7][8]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft3+3⁄4 in (1.92 m) | 261 lb (118 kg) | 32+5⁄8 in (0.83 m) | 9+7⁄8 in (0.25 m) | 4.53 s | 1.56 s | 2.65 s | 4.46 s | 7.24 s | 41.5 in (1.05 m) | 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) | 21 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine/Pro Day[9][10] | ||||||||||||
Mafe was selected 40th overall by theSeattle Seahawks in the second round of the2022 NFL draft.[11] The Seahawks acquired the 40th overall selection from theDenver Broncos in theRussell Wilson trade.[12]
In his rookie season, Boye Mafe gradually found his place on the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive front. He contributed in all 17 games—even earning three starts—and finished the year with 41 tackles and three sacks. A highlight from 2022 came in Week 2, when Mafe recorded his first NFL sack on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, signaling his potential as a disruptive force on the defensive line.[13]
In week 10 of the 2023 season, Mafe recorded a sack againstSam Howell in a 29–26 victory over theWashington Commanders, setting a franchise record for the most sacks in consecutive games with seven.[14] This performance was a highlight of a season in which Mafe consistently applied pressure on opposing quarterbacks and proved to be a disruptive force along the line of scrimmage.
Throughout the season, Mafe emerged as one of the league’s premier pass rushers, contributing not only sacks but also key stops in critical moments. His aggressive style of play and ability to quickly read offensive schemes solidified his reputation as a rising star, earning him recognition in post-game analyses and from defensive coordinators across the NFL.
In the 2024 season, Boye Mafe continued to evolve as a defensive stalwart for the Seahawks. Early in the season, he made an immediate impact—recording a sack and two tackles for loss in a crucial win over the Denver Broncos in Week 1. This play underscored his ability to contribute on big stages and provided a spark for a defense that aimed to compete with some of the league’s top offenses.[15]
Later in the season, his standout moment came in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons. Mafe recorded a sack on quarterback Kirk Cousins that forced a fumble, which was recovered and returned for a touchdown by teammate Derick Hall. This game-changing play further cemented his status as a dynamic playmaker and a leader on the field, proving his ability to shift momentum in critical moments.
| Year | Team | GP | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | SEA | 17 | 41 | 28 | 13 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | SEA | 16 | 52 | 35 | 17 | 9.0 | 9 | 1 | 6 |
| 2024 | SEA | 9 | 27 | 16 | 11 | 5.0 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
| Career | 42 | 120 | 79 | 41 | 17.0 | 19 | 2 | 9 | |