Martin Mayhew

{{Short description|American football player and executive (born 1965)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Martin Mayhew

| image = Martin Mayhew at Washington Charity Golf Classic 2021.jpg

| caption = Mayhew in 2021

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|10|8}}

| birth_place = Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 8

| weight_lb = 172

| high_school = Florida {{nowrap|(Tallahassee, Florida)}}

| college = Florida State (1983–1987)

| draftyear = 1988

| draftround = 10

| draftpick = 262

| pastteams =

Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|1988}})
Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1989|1992}})
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|1993|1996}})

| pastadmin =

NFL ({{NFL Year|2000}})
Labor operations and legal intern
XFL (2000–2001)
Director of football administration

| pastexecutive =

Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1999}})
Personnel intern
Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2001|2003}})
Senior director of football administration
Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2004|2008}})
Senior vice president and assistant general manager
Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2008|2015}})
General manager
New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2016}})
Director of football operations
San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2017|2018}})
Senior personnel executive
San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2019|2020}})
Vice president of player personnel
Washington Football Team / Commanders ({{NFL Year|2021|2023}})
General manager
Washington Commanders ({{NFL Year|2024}})
Senior personnel executive/advisor to the GM

| highlights =

Super Bowl champion (XXVI)
Second-team All-South Independent (1985)

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 118

| statlabel2 = Tackles

| statvalue2 = 618

| statlabel3 = Interceptions

| statvalue3 = 21

| statlabel4 = Forced fumbles

| statvalue4 = 5

| statlabel5 = Touchdowns

| statvalue5 = 2

| pfr = MayhMa20

| pfrexec = MayhMa0

}}

Martin Mayhew (born October 8, 1965) is an American former professional football executive and cornerback of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles prior to being selected by the Buffalo Bills in the 10th round of the 1988 NFL draft. Mayhew sat out his rookie season due to a wrist injury and joined the Washington Redskins a year later, with whom he won Super Bowl XXVI with, and later played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring following the 1996 season.

Following his playing career, Mayhew graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2000. He worked as an administrator for the XFL the same year before joining the Detroit Lions in 2001, where he worked as an assistant executive prior to being promoted to general manager (GM) in 2008. He remained in that role until 2015 and had senior executive stints with the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. Mayhew served as Commanders GM from 2021 to 2023 and before retiring as an executive in 2025.

Early life and college

Mayhew was born on October 8, 1965, in Daytona Beach, Florida. He attended Florida High School prior to enrolling a year early at Florida State University in 1983, where he played 33 career games at cornerback for the Florida State Seminoles football team opposite future Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.{{cite web |last1=Meinke |first1=Kyle |title=The evolution of Detroit Lions GM Martin Mayhew |url=https://www.mlive.com/lions/2015/04/the_rise_missteps_and_evolutio.html |website=MLive.com |date=April 29, 2015 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119204147/https://www.mlive.com/lions/2015/04/the_rise_missteps_and_evolutio.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Justice |first=Richard |date=January 22, 2021 |title=New Washington GM Martin Mayhew was a Joe Gibbs archetype, starting with relentless decency |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/01/22/martin-mayhew-washington-gm/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123151403/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/01/22/martin-mayhew-washington-gm/ |archive-date=January 23, 2021}} He was also a member of their track and field team. He was named an Academic All-America in 1985 and was also included on the All-South Independent second-team.{{cite web |title=Martin Mayhew |url=https://nolefan.org/football/mayhew_martin.html |website=nolefan.org |access-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208204703/http://www.nolefan.org/football/mayhew_martin.html |url-status=live }} He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management in 1987.

Professional career

=Player=

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 5

| height in = 8 ½

| weight = 172

| dash = 4.47

| ten split = 1.60

| twenty split = 2.63

| shuttle = 4.42

| vertical = 34

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 3

| bench = 7

| hand span = 8 ½

| note = All values from the 1988 NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=26093 |title=Martin Mayhew, Combine Results, CB - Florida State |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=February 8, 2022}}

}}

Mayhew was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the tenth round (262nd overall) of the 1988 NFL draft. He suffered a wrist injury during his rookie year and was placed on injured reserve before he could make any game appearances with them.{{cite web |last1=Hooper |first1=Ernest |title=Mayhew retires |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/06/26/mayhew-retires/ |website=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=February 5, 2021 |date=June 26, 1997 |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213054117/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/06/26/mayhew-retires/ |url-status=live }} He left in free agency the following year and signed with the Washington Redskins, where he started for them over the next four seasons including in their Super Bowl XXVI win at the end of the 1991 season.

In 1993, he signed a four-year $5.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was offered a new contract by them during the 1997 offseason but declined it and subsequently retired, citing the lack of competitive compensation, the recent birth of his child, and his desire to finish his law degree that he started while living in Washington. He finished his career playing in 118 games with 473 tackles, 21 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and a sack.{{cite web |title=Martin Mayhew - General Manager |url=https://www.washingtonfootball.com/team/front-office-roster/martin-mayhew |website=WashingtonFootball.com |access-date=January 30, 2021 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129220819/https://www.washingtonfootball.com/team/front-office-roster/martin-mayhew |url-status=live }}

=Executive=

Mayhew interned for nine months within the Redskins' personnel department in 1999, where he assisted in scouting players for the team leading up to the 2000 NFL draft.{{cite web |title=Lions 2013 Media Guide |url=https://inba.info/guias-2013-lions_57503f68b6d87f4fa28b46f3.html |website=inba.info |publisher=Detroit Lions |access-date=January 27, 2021 |format=PDR |archive-date=March 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311202644/https://inba.info/guias-2013-lions_57503f68b6d87f4fa28b46f3.html |url-status=live }} The following year, he worked as a labor operations and legal intern for the NFL league office, and was also the director of football administration for the XFL until it folded after its lone season in 2001.{{cite web |last1=Stackpole |first1=Kyle |title=5 Things To Know About Washington General Manager Martin Mayhew |url=https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/martin-mayhew-washington-gm-insight-analysis |website=WashingtonFootball.com |access-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122180153/https://www.washingtonfootball.com/news/martin-mayhew-washington-gm-insight-analysis |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Jhabvala |first1=Nicki |last2=Maske |first2=Mark |title=Washington working to hire 49ers executive Martin Mayhew to a front-office role |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/01/20/martin-mayhew-washington-football-front-office/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125115939/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/01/20/martin-mayhew-washington-football-front-office/ |url-status=live }} That same year, Mayhew was hired by the Detroit Lions as their senior director of football administration by Matt Millen before being promoted to assistant general manager in October 2004.{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Jelani |title=Washington hires Martin Mayhew as GM, appoints Marty Hurney to high-ranking front office role |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/washington-hires-martin-mayhew-as-gm-appoints-marty-hurney-to-high-ranking-role |website=NFL.com |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122005139/https://www.nfl.com/news/washington-hires-martin-mayhew-as-gm-appoints-marty-hurney-to-high-ranking-role |url-status=live }} He became the team's general manager upon the firing of Millen in September 2008 and retained that role for eight seasons until being fired following a 1–7 start to the 2015 season.{{cite web |last1=Battista |first1=Judy |title=Fed Up With Failure, the Lions Fire Millen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/sports/football/25lions.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=January 24, 2021 |date=September 24, 2008 |archive-date=January 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105210037/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/sports/football/25lions.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Monarrez |first1=Carlos |last2=Walsh |first2=Tom |title=Lions fire GM Mayhew, president Lewand |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/11/05/detroit-lions-martin-mayhew-lewand/75216768/ |website=Detroit Free Press |access-date=January 24, 2021 |date=November 5, 2015 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026192034/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/11/05/detroit-lions-martin-mayhew-lewand/75216768/ |url-status=live }}

Mayhew spent the 2016 season with the New York Giants as their director of football operations before joining the San Francisco 49ers as a senior personnel executive the following year.{{cite web |last1=Raanan |first1=Jordan |title=Martin Mayhew: 5 things we didn't know about Giants' new front office member |url=https://www.nj.com/giants/2016/02/martin_mayhew_5_things_we_didnt_know_about_the_new.html |website=NJ.com |date=February 12, 2016 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126222648/https://www.nj.com/giants/2016/02/martin_mayhew_5_things_we_didnt_know_about_the_new.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2692246-martin-mayhew-named-49ers-senior-personnel-executive-latest-details-reaction|title=Martin Mayhew Named 49ers Senior Personnel Executive: Latest Details, Reaction|website=www.bleacherreport.com|language=en-US|access-date=January 22, 2021|date=February 9, 2017|first=Tim|last=Daniels|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111150823/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2692246-martin-mayhew-named-49ers-senior-personnel-executive-latest-details-reaction|url-status=live}} He was promoted to their vice president of player personnel in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/49ers-promote-martin-mayhew-vice-president-player-personnel|title=49ers promote Martin Mayhew to vice president of player personnel|website=www.nbcsports.com|language=en-US|access-date=January 22, 2021|date=January 24, 2019|first=NBC|last=Sports|archive-date=December 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227234252/https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/49ers-promote-martin-mayhew-vice-president-player-personnel|url-status=live}} Mayhew was hired as general manager of the Washington Commanders in January 2021.{{cite news |last1=Jhabvala |first1=Nicki |title=Washington overhauls front office, naming Martin Mayhew as GM, Marty Hurney as executive VP |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/01/21/washington-football-team-martin-mayhew/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122160122/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/01/21/washington-football-team-martin-mayhew/ |url-status=live }} He served in an advisory role to head coach Ron Rivera, who had final say in football matters.{{cite web |last1=Manning |first1=Bryan |title=Martin Mayhew to remain with the Commanders |url=https://commanderswire.usatoday.com/2024/01/31/martin-mayhew-to-remain-washington-commanders-general-manager-adam-peters-49ers/ |website=Commanders Wire |publisher=USA Today |access-date=January 2, 2025 |date=January 31, 2024}} In January 2024, he was replaced at general manager by Adam Peters but remained with the team as a senior personnel executive and advisor. The Commanders announced his retirement as an executive on February 25, 2025.{{cite web |last1=Selby |first1=Zach |title=Martin Mayhew retires after 26 NFL seasons |url=https://www.commanders.com/news/martin-mayhew-retires-after-26-nfl-seasons |website=Commanders.com |access-date=February 25, 2025 |date=February 25, 2025}}

Personal life

Following his time at Florida State, Mayhew briefly worked at a First Union bank in Charlotte.{{cite news |last1=Fortier |first1=Sam |title=New GM Martin Mayhew once again returns to Washington with unfinished business |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/03/11/martin-mayhew-gm-washington-football-team/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 11, 2021 |archive-date=March 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311202713/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/03/11/martin-mayhew-gm-washington-football-team/ |url-status=live }} He attended night classes at Georgetown University Law Center during his time with the Redskins in the early 1990s but had to drop out when he left for the Buccaneers in 1993.{{cite web |last1=Cohn |first1=Grace |title=Martin Mayhew: Former NFL Player, Georgetown Law Graduate, NFL Executive |url=https://thehoya.com/football-martin-mayhew-former-nfl-player-georgetown-law-alum-nfl-executive/ |website=thehoya.com |date=June 11, 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112235242/https://thehoya.com/football-martin-mayhew-former-nfl-player-georgetown-law-alum-nfl-executive/ |url-status=live }} He re-enrolled there following his retirement as a player in 1997 and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 2000. Mayhew is a member of The Florida Bar and has also served as a board member of the Henry Ford Museum and Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL).{{Cite web |last=Henry |first=Jim |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Former Florida High, FSU star Mayhew named GM of Washington Football Team |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/2021/01/22/former-florida-high-fsu-star-mayhew-named-gm-washington-football-team/6671670002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122190357/https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/2021/01/22/former-florida-high-fsu-star-mayhew-named-gm-washington-football-team/6671670002/ |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |access-date=January 27, 2021 |website=Tallahassee Democrat}}