Kevin Mawae

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Mawae's professional journey began when he was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks as the 36th overall pick in 1994. He made his first pro appearance at right guard against the Los Angeles Raiders on September 11, eventually starting the final 11 games of that season at the same position. In 1995, he started all 16 games at right guard, helping running back Chris Warren achieve back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons with over 1,300 rushing yards each year. A pivotal shift occurred at the start of his 1996 season when he moved to center, a position he held for the remainder of his NFL career. His tenure with the Seahawks established him as a reliable presence who never left the lineup once taking over early in a game against the Indianapolis Colts.

In Their Own Story

In 1998, Mawae signed with the New York Jets, where his impact was immediate. The Jets' offense averaged 357.2 yards per game (second-best in the AFC) and controlled the ball for 32:17 minutes per game. He started all 16 games that season, paving the way for Curtis Martin to rush for a franchise-record eight 100-yard games. By December 22, 1999, Mawae earned his first Pro Bowl selection, starting every single play of the regular season while snapping to three different quarterbacks: Vinny Testaverde, Rick Mirer, and Ray Lucas. His streak of consecutive starts reached 177 games before ending in October 2005 due to a serious triceps injury against the Buffalo Bills. After being cut by the Jets on March 5, 2006, he signed with the Tennessee Titans nine days later. There, he helped the offense rank fifth in the NFL in rushing and anchored an offensive line that allowed only 29 sacks.

Reader's Guide

Kevin Mawae's career was defined by his versatility and leadership on the field and off it. During his time with the Jets, he earned six consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1999 to 2004. In 2007, he was voted team captain by the Titans, leading LenDale White to a 1,110-yard season. Beyond playing, Mawae served two terms as NFLPA president from March 2008 to March 2012, a period that included the 2011 NFL lockout. He announced his retirement on September 10, 2010, after 16 years in the league, though he played his final game at the 2009 Pro Bowl in February 2010. His legacy was officially recognized when he was announced as part of the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame class on February 2, 2019. Following retirement, he pursued coaching roles with the Chicago Bears (2016), Arizona State University (2018), and the Indianapolis Colts (2021) before becoming the head coach at Lipscomb Academy in January 2023.

Did You Know?

• Mawae was a military brat who spent ages 5–7 in Fort Riley, Kansas, and ages 8–12 in Hanau, Germany.
• In college at LSU, he played three different positions: left tackle, center, and left guard.
• He proposed to his wife, Tracy Dale Hicks, over the public address system at LSU Fan Day in front of 3,000 fans.
• Mawae was ranked fifth in a Sports Illustrated poll of 'dirty players' in 2009, stating he was proud because he plays hard.
• He lost his brother John, a former nose guard at LSU, to a car accident before his own NFL career began.