Mays attended Hyde Park High School in Chicago, Illinois. He did not play football until his junior year of high school. He earned first-team all-conference honors in both his junior and senior years. He was named a first-team all-city selection as a senior in football after he made 115 tackles, 16 sacks, and two interceptions.
College career
As a senior at North Dakota State, Mays led the team on defense with 90 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks. He earned All-American honors and was named the Great West ConferenceDefensive Player of the Year. Mays was a three-time first-team All-Great West Conference selection in his career. He made 285 total tackles, a school-record 159 solo tackles, 29.5 tackles-for-loss, three interceptions, and eleven sacks in his 31 games started and 43 games played in his career.
Professional career
Philadelphia Eagles
Mays was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round with the 200th overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft. He spent most of the 2008 season inactive, but played in the last two games of the season on special teams. On August 2, 2009, the starting linebacker for the Eagles, Stewart Bradley, suffered a season-ending torn ACL during training camp. At subsequent Eagles practices, Mays was promoted to Bradley's position, middle linebacker, although Omar Gaither beat him out for the job.
Denver Broncos
Mays was traded to the Denver Broncos in exchange for running back J. J. Arrington on July 30, 2010. On September 25, 2012, Mays was suspended for one game and fined $50,000 dollars by the NFL for his hit on the Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub that lacerated Schaub's earlobe. During the Week 8 game against the New Orleans Saints, Mays fractured his fibula and was placed on injured reserve. On July 23, 2013, Mays was released by the Broncos.
Houston Texans
On July 29, 2013, Mays signed with the Houston Texans to a one-year contract.
Mays signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 12, 2014. Due to an injury suffered in the Chiefs final preseason game, Mays was placed on injured reserve with a designated for return tag, and was activated on November 8, 2014. He was released by the team on March 5, 2015.
