Shaq Mason Bio
Shaquille Olajuwon Mason (born August 28, 1993) is an American professional football offensive guard. Mason played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 2011 to 2014 and was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. Throughout his career, he has achieved notable successes including multiple Super Bowl championships and recognition in the All-ACC teams.
Early Life and Background
Shaquille Olajuwon Mason was born on August 28, 1993, in Columbia, Tennessee, USA. He grew up in Columbia and attended Columbia Central High School, where he developed as a football player. Standing roughly 6 feet 1 inch tall and competing around 315 pounds, he had the build of a future interior lineman from an early stage of his development.
His path into the sport followed the typical route for top-level American football prospects, with high school competition providing the foundation for his later college recruitment. Mason’s size, quickness off the ball, and finishing mentality at the line of scrimmage drew the attention of college programs evaluating offensive line prospects.
Path to American Football
Mason committed to Georgia Tech, where he joined the Yellow Jackets and quickly worked his way into the rotation. As a true freshman in 2011, he appeared in 11 games, giving the program an early glimpse of his long-term potential. From 2012 through 2014, he started 39 of the Yellow Jackets’ 41 games, including every contest during his junior and senior seasons.
His steady development was rewarded with conference recognition. In 2013, he was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference, and he repeated the honor in 2014, when he was also named a first-team All-American. That senior season established him as one of the top interior line prospects in his draft class and set the stage for his selection in the 2015 NFL draft.
Shaq Mason Career
Early Career (2015)
On May 2, 2015, Mason was selected in the fourth round, 131st overall, by the New England Patriots. He appeared in 14 games with 10 starts as a rookie, showing enough consistency to lock down a long-term role on the interior of the offensive line. The Patriots quickly viewed him as a building block for the trenches.
Mason broke his hand during the 2016 preseason and did not start the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. He instead split time at right guard with rookie Ted Karras. Even with that early setback, Mason returned to form and held the right guard job for the remainder of his time in New England.
New England Patriots Breakthrough (2015–2021)
Mason became a fixture on the Patriots’ offensive line, starting every game at right guard once he regained the role in 2016. On February 5, 2017, he was part of the New England team that won Super Bowl LI, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34–28 in overtime. That championship was the first of his career and confirmed his place on a perennial contender.
In 2017, Mason started all 16 games at right guard. He also started Super Bowl LII against the Philadelphia Eagles, a game New England lost 41–33. On August 27, 2018, he signed a five-year, $50 million contract extension with the Patriots, reflecting his status as one of the league’s most reliable guards. That season he started 14 games, missed two with a calf injury, and earned an 82.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest mark among guards in the league. He then played every offensive snap in Super Bowl LIII, a 13–3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, securing his second championship.
During the 2020 season, Mason was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on October 17 and activated on October 21. He continued to start for New England through the 2021 season before the franchise moved on at the position.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2022)
On March 15, 2022, Mason was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. The trade reunited him with quarterback Tom Brady, his longtime signal-caller from New England. He slotted in as a starter at guard for Tampa Bay during the 2022 season.
Houston Texans Era (2023–Present)
On March 20, 2023, the Buccaneers traded Mason and a 2023 seventh-round pick to the Houston Texans in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. On May 10, 2023, he signed a three-year, $36 million contract extension. In 2024, Mason started 15 games and was tied with Alex Cappa for the league lead in sacks allowed by a guard, with eight.
On March 7, 2025, the Houston Texans announced that they would release Mason, opening a new chapter in his professional career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mason’s career is anchored by two Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots, following Super Bowl LI and Super Bowl III. He signed a five-year, $50 million extension with the Patriots in 2018 and later a three-year, $36 million extension with the Houston Texans in 2023. His first-team All-American selection in 2014 stands as one of the defining honors of his pre-professional career.
Shaq Mason Career Wins
Across his professional career, Shaq Mason has compiled two Super Bowl championships, both earned as a starter on the New England Patriots’ offensive line. He has added individual recognition in the form of All-ACC and All-American honors from his college years.
Super Bowl Highlights
Mason was a starting right guard for the Patriots in Super Bowl LI, which New England won 34–28 in overtime against the Atlanta Falcons. He returned to the Super Bowl stage in Super Bowl LII against the Philadelphia Eagles, a 41–33 defeat, and started every offensive snap in Super Bowl LIII, a 13–3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Other Wins and Performances
In the regular season, Mason recorded an 82.1 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2018, the highest of any guard in the league that year. He was also recognized as first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013 and 2014, and a first-team All-American in 2014 during his senior season at Georgia Tech.
Shaq Mason Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Shaq Mason’s immediate family is limited, and verified details about his parents have not been confirmed in available sources. He grew up in Columbia, Tennessee, where he attended Columbia Central High School before moving on to Georgia Tech.
Personal Life
Mason is identified by his full name, Shaquille Olajuwon Mason, and has built his professional life in the United States. Confirmed details about his marital status, spouse, and children are not available in the current verified record.
2025 Season Performance
Mason entered 2025 as a Houston Texans offensive guard under contract, following his three-year extension signed in May 2023. On March 7, 2025, the Texans announced that they would release Mason, ending his time in Houston. The move created a new decision point for the veteran lineman as he evaluated his next team and role.
Heading into the remainder of 2025, Mason’s outlook centers on finding a roster fit where he can return to a starting role. His track record of durable, high-level play and championship experience should keep him in demand across the league.
His two Super Bowl rings, his All-American recognition, and his past contract extensions underscore the level he has performed at for most of his career. How quickly he lands with a new team and how he adapts to a new scheme will define the next chapter of his 2025 season.