Max Yates (American football)

Tackles	2
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Max Yates
No. 50, 57
Position	Linebacker
Personal information
Born	October 30, 1979 (age 46); Newport News, Virginia, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	228 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school	Denbigh (Newport News)
College	Marshall
NFL draft	2002: undrafted
Career history
	Minnesota Vikings (2002–2004); San Francisco 49ers (2004–2005)*;
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
	MAC Defensive Player of the Year (2001); 2× First-team All-MAC (2000, 2001); Second-team All-MAC (1999);
Career NFL statistics
Tackles
Tackles	2
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Last updated November 29, 2025

Max Yates (born October 30, 1979) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2002 and would played three seasons in the NFL. He played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd.

At Marshall, Yates finished his career with 383 tackles and was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2001.^[2] In 2019, he was inducted into the Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame.^[3]

Yates was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings in 2002. However, Yates only appeared in one game with the Vikings during the 2004 season.^[4]

Yates has a son named Jaden, who also has played football at Marshall.^[5]

References

↑ "MAC Announces 2001 All-League Football Team". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
↑ Blankenship, Aaron (November 22, 2022). "Inspired by memory of murdered friend, Jaden Yates has helped lead Gahanna Lincoln defense". SI. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
↑ Stephens, Tim (September 15, 2019). "MU football notebook: Marshall inducts 10 into Hall of Fame". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
↑ Tommason, Chris (October 16, 2020). "They played one game with the Vikings. That was it for a career". St. Paul Pioneer Press . Retrieved January 27, 2024.
↑ Creasy, Luke (July 4, 2023). "Marshall football: Sons of Herd Legends downplay noise about their famous fathers". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved January 27, 2024.

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[1] "MAC Announces 2001 All-League Football Team". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. Retrieved January 27, 2024.

[2] Blankenship, Aaron (November 22, 2022). "Inspired by memory of murdered friend, Jaden Yates has helped lead Gahanna Lincoln defense". SI. Retrieved January 27, 2024.

[3] Stephens, Tim (September 15, 2019). "MU football notebook: Marshall inducts 10 into Hall of Fame". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved September 3, 2020.

[4] Tommason, Chris (October 16, 2020). "They played one game with the Vikings. That was it for a career". St. Paul Pioneer Press . Retrieved January 27, 2024.

[5] Creasy, Luke (July 4, 2023). "Marshall football: Sons of Herd Legends downplay noise about their famous fathers". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved January 27, 2024.

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