Date of birth | March 4, 1979 |
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Place of birth | Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, U.S. |
Career information | |
Position(s) | DB |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
Weight | 202 lb (92 kg) |
US college | Penn State |
Career history | |
As player | |
2003–2004 | New England Patriots |
2005 | Atlanta Falcons |
2006 | Cleveland Browns |
2005 | Hamburg Sea Devils |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Career stats | |
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Shawn A. Mayer (born March 4, 1979) is a former professional American football defensive back, and currently a player development coach at Rutgers University.
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots in 2003, Mayer played in 9 games that season, compiling 15 tackles, including one in Super Bowl XXXVIII. [1] That one Super Bowl tackle remarkably was of Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ricky Proehl, who attended the same Hillsborough High School as Mayer. He would appear in only 3 games in 2004, and in February 2005 he signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons who then allocated him to NFL Europe. Mayer excelled as a member of the Hamburg Sea Devils, matching the NFL Europe record for interceptions in a game (3), [2] setting team records for interceptions in a season (5) and in a game (3) [3] and earning All-NFL Europe honors. He would return to play for Hamburg during the 2006 season, this time allocated by the Cleveland Browns. [4]
Mayer started 23 games while at Penn State University and finished his career with 252 tackles, 5 interceptions, 1.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice from Penn State University in 2003.
He grew up in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey [5] and was twice-named a USA Today All-American and New Jersey SuperPrep following his junior and senior seasons at Hillsborough High School where he also excelled in track and field.
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Safety Shawn Mayer, who had figured heavily in Penn State's plans this year, will miss the football season because of a knee injury suffered in practice. ... The 6-foot, 197-pounder from Hillsborough, N.J., played in every game last season.