Michael Mayer
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 catches. A consensus All-American at Notre Dame, Mayer entered the league as a second-round draft pick in 2023.
Early Life and Background
Michael Richard Mayer was born on July 6, 2001, in Independence, Kentucky. He grew up in the northern Kentucky community near Cincinnati and attended Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky, where he developed into one of the top tight end prospects in the country.
As a senior in 2019, Mayer was named the Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year after recording 49 receptions for 970 yards and 15 touchdowns. His production that season helped establish him as a priority recruit, and he was selected to play in the 2020 All-American Bowl, a showcase for the nation’s top high school seniors. He then committed to the University of Notre Dame to play college football, choosing the Fighting Irish over several other scholarship offers.
Path to American Football
At Covington Catholic, Mayer played in a program with a strong football tradition, lining up as a traditional in-line tight end while also working as a pass catcher out of the slot. His combination of size, hands, and route running drew attention from major college programs, and his senior production put him on national recruiting boards.
His invitation to the 2020 All-American Bowl gave him a chance to compete against other elite prospects and helped confirm his status as a top-tier tight end recruit. Mayer enrolled at Notre Dame with an opportunity to contribute immediately, and his physical profile and polish allowed him to step into the starting lineup as a freshman in 2020.
Michael Mayer Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Mayer’s earliest notable results came at Covington Catholic High School, where his senior-season totals of 49 receptions, 970 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns earned him statewide player of the year honors. Those numbers also placed him among the most productive tight ends in the 2020 recruiting class.
He carried that production directly into college, becoming Notre Dame’s starting tight end as a freshman in 2020. The early opportunity allowed him to build experience against top competition while adjusting to the speed and complexity of the Fighting Irish offense.
Notre Dame Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Mayer’s first full season as a featured pass catcher came in 2021, when he was named a third-team All-American. He served as a reliable target in the Notre Dame passing game and continued to develop his blocking, establishing himself as a complete tight end prospect.
In 2022, Mayer elevated his play to an even higher level. He surpassed former Notre Dame standout Tyler Eifert to become the school’s all-time receptions leader at tight end with over 140 catches at the time of the achievement, ultimately finishing his career with 180 receptions at the position. That season he was named a consensus All-American, becoming the first Notre Dame player to earn the designation since tight end Ken MacAfee in 1976.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2023–Present)
The Las Vegas Raiders selected Michael Richard Mayer with the 35th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He entered the league as one of the most decorated tight end prospects to come out of Notre Dame in decades.
In his rookie season, Mayer appeared in 14 games with 12 starts and finished with 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns. He recorded his first professional touchdown in Week 10 against the New York Jets, a milestone moment in his first year. In the 2024 season, he finished with 21 receptions for 156 yards, contributing as a blocker and a chain-moving target for the Raiders offense.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mayer is regarded as a well-rounded tight end with the size to line up in-line, the hands to work the middle of the field, and the blocking toughness to handle edge responsibilities. At 6 feet 4 inches and around 256 pounds, he has the frame to win contested catches and the technique to sustain as a run blocker. His Notre Dame résumé demonstrated the ability to operate as a safety valve and a red-zone weapon at the college level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Michael Richard Mayer’s most notable achievements is becoming Notre Dame’s all-time receptions leader at tight end with 180 catches, a record that surpassed the mark previously held by Tyler Eifert. He was also the first Notre Dame consensus All-American since Ken MacAfee in 1976 and was selected 35th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Michael Mayer Career Wins
Michael Richard Mayer’s career has been defined by statistical milestones and individual awards rather than race-style victories. His record-setting production at Notre Dame and his status as a top-40 draft pick headline his on-field resume.
Notre Dame Highlights
At Notre Dame, Mayer set the program’s all-time receptions record for tight ends with 180 career catches. He added consensus All-American honors in 2022 and third-team All-American recognition in 2021, along with third-team All-ACC honors in 2020.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his college accolades, Mayer was the 2019 Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year and was invited to the 2020 All-American Bowl. In the NFL, he logged 27 receptions as a rookie in 2023 and added 21 more in 2024.
Michael Mayer Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public biographical sources for Michael Richard Mayer do not detail his parents or immediate family structure. What is documented is his connection to professional baseball: his cousin is Luke Maile, a professional baseball catcher who plays in the Major League Baseball organization of the Kansas City Royals.
Personal Life
Michael Richard Mayer was born and raised in Independence, Kentucky. Verified public information does not list a spouse or children for the tight end, and his personal life has otherwise remained largely outside the spotlight as he focuses on his NFL career with the Las Vegas Raiders.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Michael Richard Mayer enters his third NFL year with the Las Vegas Raiders still looking to fully establish himself as a featured part of the passing attack. After a 27-catch rookie season in 2023, his reception total dipped to 21 in 2024, signaling that the next step in his development is increased volume and efficiency in the Raiders’ offensive game plan.
The 2025 storyline for Mayer centers on opportunity. With a full offseason to build rapport with the Las Vegas quarterback room and further refine his in-line and slot responsibilities, he is positioned to take on a larger share of the targets. The Raiders’ investment in a second-round pick from Notre Dame underscores the organization’s belief that his production curve is still trending upward.
Mayer’s outlook for 2025 hinges on consistency as both a blocker and a pass catcher. If he can stay healthy and carve out a featured role in the red zone and on early downs, his combination of size, hands, and football IQ offers a path back toward the kind of production he delivered at Notre Dame, where he set the school’s tight end receptions record with 180 catches.