Kevin Mawae
The center who earned eight Pro Bowl nods and led the NFLPA while playing for Seattle, New York, and Tennessee.
Kevin Mawae is an American former professional football player who played as a center in the National Football League for 16 seasons. Born on January 23, 1971, he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 1994 NFL draft after playing college football for the LSU Tigers. While he began his career with the Seahawks, Mawae found his greatest success with the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans. He received six consecutive Pro Bowl selections and five first-team All-Pro honors during his eight seasons with the Jets, eventually extending those totals to eight Pro Bowls and seven first-team All-Pro honors over his entire career before retiring in 2010.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Center, guard
- Born
- 23 January 1971
- Birthplace
- Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
- High school
- Leesville (Leesville, Louisiana)
- College
- LSU (1989–1993)
- Draftyear
- 1994
- Draftround
- 2
- Draftpick
- 36
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.
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.
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