Boye Mafe
| No. 53 – Seattle Seahawks | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | November 30, 1998 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 / round: 2 / pick: 40 | ||||||||||||
| 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 professional football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Minnesota.
Early life
Mafe's parents, Wale and Bola, came to the United States from Nigeria.[1] Mafe grew up in Golden Valley, Minnesota and attended Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota.[2] As a senior he was named All-Metro after recording 78 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks.[3][4]
College career
Mafe redshirted 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 mention All-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's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.[7][8]
Professional career
| 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 ft 3+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 from NFL Combine/Pro Day[9][10] | ||||||||||||
Mafe was drafted 40th overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.[11] The Seahawks acquired the 40th overall selection from the Denver Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade.[12]
2022
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]
2023
In week 10 of the 2023 season, Mafe recorded a sack against Sam Howell in a 29–26 victory over the Washington 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.
2024
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.
NFL Career Statistics
Regular Season
| 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 | |
References
- ^ Lynch, Evan (April 15, 2022). "Possible Ravens Draft Target Boye Mafe Proud Of Nigerian Heritage, On-Field Versatility". PressBoxOnline. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ Greder, Andy (December 18, 2020). "Gophers defensive end Boye Mafe's stock climbing on and off field. His late mother would be proud". The Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ Shaver, Randy (November 18, 2016). "KARE 11 All-Metro Team 2016: Defense". KARE.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ Foster, Brandon (May 14, 2016). "2017 Wyoming target: Boye Mafe". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ Irvin, Phil (November 11, 2020). "Defensive end Boye Mafe is a potential blueprint for sustained success at Minnesota". SaturdayTradition.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ Fuller, Marcus (October 22, 2020). "Boye Mafe brings tremendous athletic ability to Gophers defensive line". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ Baird, Nathan (July 3, 2021). "Minnesota's 'freakish' Boye Mafe out to ruin Ohio State quarterback's debut: Buckeyes' best opponents, No. 18". Cleveland.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ Greder, Andy (September 23, 2021). "Gophers' Boye Mafe had slow start, but he and Thomas Rush broke out vs. Colorado". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ "Boye Mafe Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Draft Scout Boye Mafe, Minnesota NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ "2022 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
- ^ Boyle, John (April 29, 2022). "Seahawks Select Minnesota LB Boye Mafe With 40th Overall Pick". Seahawks.com. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
- ^ "Seahawks Select Minnesota LB Boye Mafe With 40th Overall Pick". Seattle Seahawks. April 29, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
- ^ Obee, Maliik (November 13, 2023). "Boye Mafe Etches Name In Franchise Record Books In Seahawks' 29-26 Win Over Commanders". Seahawks.com. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
- ^ "Game Center: Denver 20, Seattle 26". Seattle Seahawks. September 8, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2024.