Joe Mays (American football)

Joe Mays

refer to caption Mays with the Chargers in the 2015 season.
No. 57 San Diego Chargers
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1985-07-06) July 6, 1985
Place of birth:	Chicago, Illinois
Height:
Weight:
Career information
High school:	Chicago (IL) Hyde Park
College:	North Dakota State
NFL draft:	2008 / Round: 6 / Pick: 200
Career history
Philadelphia Eagles (2008−2009) Denver Broncos (2010−2012) Houston Texans (2013) Kansas City Chiefs (2014) New York Jets (2015)* San Diego Chargers (2015−present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
3× First-team All-GWC (2005–2007) GWC Defensive P.O.Y. (2007) Division I-AA All-American (2007)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2014
Tackles: 220 Sacks: 1.5 Forced fumbles: 1 Interceptions: 0 Player stats at NFL.com

Joseph Lamont Mays (born July 6, 1985) is an American football linebacker who is currently on contract with the San Diego Chargers. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Dakota State.

Mays has also played for the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and Kansas City Chiefs.

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 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 of the 2008 NFL Draft. 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. 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.

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. 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.

Houston Texans

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

Kansas City Chiefs

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

New York Jets

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

San Diego Chargers

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

Personal

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

External links

• Kansas City Chiefs bio