Michael Mayer (American football)

Michael Richard Mayer (born July 6, 2001) is an American professional football tight end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, finishing as their all-time receptions leader at tight end with 180.

Michael Mayer

Mayer in 2023
No. 87 – Las Vegas Raiders
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(2001-07-06) July 6, 2001 (age 23) Independence, Kentucky, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:	Covington Catholic (Park Hills, Kentucky)
College:	Notre Dame (2020–2022)
NFL draft:	2023: 2nd round, 35th pick
Career history
Las Vegas Raiders (2023–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Consensus All-American (2022) Third-team All-American (2021) Third-team All-ACC (2020)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2024
Receptions: 48 Receiving yards: 460 Receiving touchdowns: 2 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Mayer was born on July 6, 2001, in Independence, Kentucky.^[1] He attended Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky. As a senior in 2019, he was the Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year after recording 49 receptions for 970 yards and 15 touchdowns.^[2] He was selected to play in the 2020 All-American Bowl.^[3] He committed to the University of Notre Dame to play college football.^[4][5]

College career

Mayer was Notre Dame's starting tight end as a freshman in 2020.^[6][7] In 2021, Mayer was named a third-team All-American.^[8] In 2022, he surpassed Tyler Eifert to become the school's all-time receptions leader at tight end with over 140 catches.^[9] He was named a consensus All-American, the first in program history since Ken MacAfee in 1976.^[10]

College statistics

Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Season	Games		Receiving
	GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
2020	12	4	42	450	10.7	29	2
2021	12	12	71	840	11.8	52	7
2022	12	12	67	809	12.1	37	9
Career	36	28	180	2,099	11.7	52	18

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

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 4+1⁄2 in (1.94 m)	249 lb (113 kg)	31+5⁄8 in (0.80 m)	9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m)	4.70 s	1.66 s	2.75 s	4.44 s	7.26 s	32.5 in (0.83 m)	9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)	21 reps
Sources:[11][12]

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Mayer with the 35th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.^[13] In Week 10, he scored his first professional touchdown against the Jets.^[14] He finished his rookie season with 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns through 14 games and 12 starts.^[15] In the 2024 season, he finished with 21 receptions for 156 yards.^[16]

Personal life

Mayer's cousin is Luke Maile, a professional baseball catcher who currently plays in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals organization.^[17]

NFL career statistics

Year	Team	Games		Receiving
		GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
2023	LV	14	12	27	304	11.3	32	2
2024	LV	11	8	21	156	7.4	29	0
Career		25	20	48	460	9.6	32	2