Boye Mafe

Boye Mafe
Mafe in 2026
No. 53  Seattle Seahawks
PositionLinebacker
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (1998-11-30) November 30, 1998 (age 27)
Golden Valley, Minnesota, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight261 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High schoolHopkins (Minnetonka, Minnesota)
CollegeMinnesota (2017–2021)
NFL draft2022: 2nd round, 40th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Total tackles164
Sacks20.0
Forced fumbles3
Fumble recoveries2
Pass deflections14
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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 for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Mafe won Super Bowl LX with the Seahawks.

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

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Wingspan 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+34 in
(1.92 m)
261 lb
(118 kg)
32+58 in
(0.83 m)
9+78 in
(0.25 m)
6 ft 8+34 in
(2.05 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][11]

Mafe was drafted 40th overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.[12] The Seahawks acquired the 40th overall selection from the Denver Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade.[13] Mafe recorded his first career sack in Week 2 of his rookie season against the San Francisco 49ers.[14] He finished his rookie season with three sacks and 41 total tackles (28 solo).[15]

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.[16] In Week 16, against the Tennessee Titans, he had his first game with two sacks in the 20–17 win.[17] He finished the 2023 season with nine sacks, 52 total tackles (35 solo), six passes defended, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.[18]

Mafe started off the 2024 season with three consecutive games with a sack before missing Weeks 4–5 with a knee injury.[19][20] He finished the 2024 season with six sacks, 40 total tackles (25 solo), and three passes defended.[21]

In the 2025 season, Mafe had two sacks, 31 total tackles (11 solo), and five passes defended.[22] Mafe played in Super Bowl LX.[23] He won his first NFL championship when the Seahawks defeated the Patriots 29–13.[24]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF Fum FR Yds TD
2022 SEA 17 3 41 28 13 3.0 3 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023 SEA 16 16 52 35 17 9.0 9 0 0 0.0 0 0 6 1 0 2 3 0
2024 SEA 15 11 40 25 15 6.0 8 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0
2025 SEA 17 4 31 11 20 2.0 4 0 0 0.0 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 0
Career 65 34 164 99 65 20.0 24 0 0 0.0 0 0 14 3 0 2 3 0

Postseason

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF Fum FR Yds TD
2022 SEA 1 0 2 2 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025 SEA 3 0 5 3 2 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 4 0 7 5 2 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ Lynch, Evan (April 15, 2022). "Possible Ravens Draft Target Boye Mafe Proud Of Nigerian Heritage, On-Field Versatility". PressBoxOnline. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Shaver, Randy (November 18, 2016). "KARE 11 All-Metro Team 2016: Defense". KARE.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  4. ^ Foster, Brandon (May 14, 2016). "2017 Wyoming target: Boye Mafe". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  5. ^ Irvin, Phil (November 11, 2020). "Defensive end Boye Mafe is a potential blueprint for sustained success at Minnesota". SaturdayTradition.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  6. ^ Fuller, Marcus (October 22, 2020). "Boye Mafe brings tremendous athletic ability to Gophers defensive line". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Boye Mafe Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  10. ^ "2022 Draft Scout Boye Mafe, Minnesota NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  11. ^ "Boye Mafe NFL Draft 2022: Scouting Report for Seattle Seahawks' EDGE". BleacherReport.com. April 29, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  12. ^ "2022 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  13. ^ Boyle, John (April 29, 2022). "Seahawks Select Minnesota LB Boye Mafe With 40th Overall Pick". Seahawks.com. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  14. ^ Taylor, Diane (September 20, 2022). "Rookie spotlight: Boye Mafe shows up big against the 49ers". Field Gulls. SB Nation. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  15. ^ "Boye Mafe 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Solms, Leonard (December 27, 2023). "Boye Mafe keeps Seahawks in prime position for Wild Card berth". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  18. ^ "Boye Mafe 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  19. ^ Benintendi, Connor (January 15, 2025). "Reviewing Projections: Boye Mafe in 2024". Seattle Seahawks On SI. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  20. ^ Smith, Corbin (October 6, 2024). "Seattle Seahawks LB Boye Mafe Among Inactives vs. New York Giants". Seattle Seahawks On SI. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  21. ^ "Boye Mafe 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  22. ^ "Boye Mafe 2025 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  23. ^ "Super Bowl LX - Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots - February 8th, 2026". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  24. ^ Maaddi, Rob (February 8, 2026). "Seahawks ride their 'Dark Side' defense to a Super Bowl title, pounding the Patriots 29-13". AP News. Retrieved February 15, 2026.