Maxwell Tooley Bio
Maxwell Tooley is an American professional football linebacker born on March 5, 1998, in Bountiful, Utah. He played college football for the BYU Cougars, where he built a reputation as a reliable tackler and a productive defender across multiple seasons. After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Tooley quickly signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent and later moved to the Minnesota Vikings, where he has continued to develop his professional career.
Standing 188 centimeters tall and weighing roughly 102 kilograms, Tooley has the frame of a modern NFL linebacker. His early professional path has featured stints on practice squads and reserve contracts, a common route for undrafted rookies determined to earn a long-term role at the highest level.
Early Life and Background
Maxwell Tooley was raised in Bountiful, Utah, a community with a strong tradition of high school football. He attended Bountiful High School, where he played for the school team and developed into a recognizable prospect. Coming out of high school, Tooley was rated as a three-star recruit, a label that reflected his potential even if it suggested he was not viewed as an elite national recruit.
Coming from a region with deep ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Tooley is a member of the church and later served a mission in London, England, an experience that delayed his early college timeline but reflected a personal commitment common among BYU players. His decision to attend Brigham Young University aligned both with his religious background and his football ambitions.
Path to American Football
Tooley committed to play college football for the BYU Cougars, joining a program that competes at the top level of American college football. His first two seasons, played in 2018 and 2019, gave him valuable experience at the collegiate level, and he appeared in a combined 17 games while recording 50 tackles, two tackles for loss, and an interception. Those years allowed him to adjust to the speed and complexity of the BYU defensive scheme.
The COVID-shortened 2020 season limited his opportunities, but Tooley still produced, notching 44 tackles, three tackles for loss, a pass deflection, and an interception. By 2021, he had emerged as a dependable starter, finishing that season with 68 tackles, five and a half tackles for loss, a sack, three pass deflections, and another interception. His senior year in 2023 was his most productive, totaling 92 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble, confirming his readiness for professional football.
Maxwell Tooley Career
Early Career (2018–2023, BYU)
Across his time at BYU, Maxwell Tooley steadily increased his production and responsibilities. In 2022, he produced one of the signature moments of his college career, recording five tackles and an interception that he returned for his first career touchdown in a 50-21 win over South Florida in week one. He followed that performance with a 13-tackle game against Notre Dame later that season.
Tooley closed the 2022 campaign with 57 tackles, a forced fumble, three interceptions, and two touchdowns, establishing himself as a playmaker in the defensive secondary and the linebacker corps. His final collegiate season showcased his consistency, as he led the defense in tackles and continued to contribute in coverage and against the run.
NFL Breakthrough (2024)
Tooley entered the 2024 NFL Draft as a prospect coming off a strong senior year at BYU. When he was not selected, he did not wait long to find a professional home, signing with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. He joined a roster that has historically welcomed young defensive players through developmental pathways.
His initial stint with the Texans was brief, as he was waived on August 27 before being re-signed to the team’s practice squad. After another release on September 17, Tooley found his next opportunity with the Minnesota Vikings, signing with their practice squad on September 19, 2024. On January 16, 2025, he signed a reserve and future contract with Minnesota, securing his place with the organization beyond that season.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2024–Present)
Tooley’s move to Minnesota offered a fresh start and a clear path forward. Working primarily on the practice squad, he focused on refining his technique, learning the Vikings’ defensive system, and contributing on special teams when called upon. His reserve and future contract reflected the franchise’s confidence in his long-term potential.
In 2025, Tooley experienced the typical roster churn faced by young players. He was waived by the Vikings on July 30, 2025, re-signed on August 13, and waived again on August 19. Despite the movement, he remained part of the team’s broader defensive plans and continued to compete for a roster spot.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although linebackers do not drive, Tooley brings several clear strengths to the field. He has shown reliable open-field tackling, instincts in coverage, and the ability to contribute on special teams. His interception returned for a touchdown at BYU demonstrated his ball skills, while his season-long tackle totals underscored his consistency against both the run and the pass.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Maxwell Tooley’s career include his first career touchdown on an interception return against South Florida in 2022, his standout 13-tackle performance against Notre Dame the same season, and his transition to the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2024. His signing of a reserve and future contract with the Vikings in January 2025 marked another important step in his professional development.
Maxwell Tooley Career Highlights
Across his college and early professional career, Maxwell Tooley has accumulated consistent production as a linebacker. His BYU totals include 311 tackles, multiple interceptions, and several tackles for loss across five seasons, establishing him as one of the program’s reliable defensive contributors.
College Highlights
Tooley played in 17 games during his first two seasons at BYU, recording 50 tackles and an interception. He added 44 tackles in the shortened 2020 campaign and 68 tackles in 2021, before posting 57 tackles, three interceptions, and two touchdowns in 2022. His 2023 season produced 92 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble.
NFL Performances
In the NFL, Tooley has not yet recorded regular-season statistics on the official league leaderboards, as his time with the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings has primarily been spent on practice squads. His progression through two organizations within months of the 2024 draft reflects the perseverance common among undrafted rookies.
Maxwell Tooley Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Maxwell Tooley was raised in Bountiful, Utah, and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission for the church in London, England, an experience shared by many BYU student-athletes. Public details about his parents, siblings, spouse, and children have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a period of adjustment for Maxwell Tooley within the Minnesota Vikings organization. After signing a reserve and future contract in January, he was waived in late July, re-signed in mid-August, and waived again shortly thereafter. These moves reflect the ongoing competition for roster spots among young linebackers during the preseason.
Throughout the summer, Tooley has continued to work within the Vikings’ defensive system, contributing on special teams and in practice while competing for a depth role. His familiarity with the team’s scheme, built during the 2024 season and the early months of 2025, provides a foundation for any future opportunity.
Looking ahead, Tooley’s primary goal is to secure a stable role on an NFL roster. Whether that opportunity comes in Minnesota or through another franchise, his combination of college production, special-teams potential, and perseverance makes him a candidate to watch as the 2025 season progresses.