Martin Mayhew

Martin Mayhew
Name	Martin Mayhew
Birth date	3 December 1965
Birth place	Spartanburg, South Carolina
Occupation	American football executive, former player, attorney
Years active	1986–present

Martin Mayhew

Martin Mayhew (born December 3, 1965) is an American football executive, former professional cornerback, and attorney. He has held senior front office positions with multiple National Football League franchises and served as general manager for the Washington Commanders (previously known as the Washington Redskins) and the Detroit Lions. Mayhew's background includes collegiate play at Furman University, law study at the Georgetown University Law Center, and wide-ranging roles in scouting, personnel, and executive leadership across the NFL.

Early life and education

Mayhew was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina and raised in an environment connected to American football culture in the American South. He attended GMHS before earning a scholarship to Furman University, where he played for the Furman Paladins football program under coach Jimmy Satterfield. After a collegiate playing career that coincided with appearances in NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship competition, he graduated from Furman University and later enrolled at the Georgetown University Law Center, obtaining a Juris Doctor while preparing for a post-playing career that bridged National Football League administration, legal practice, and player representation.

Playing career

Mayhew entered the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent and signed with the San Diego Chargers after the 1987 NFL Draft. He earned roster opportunities and practice squad roles with teams including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Giants, and he logged regular-season appearances as a defensive back in the National Football League. During his playing years he competed against notable players from franchises such as the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears. His on-field career also overlapped with labor and roster developments that involved the NFL Players Association and league-level collective bargaining issues during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Following retirement from active play, he transitioned to roles that leveraged his legal education and on-field experience.

Front office and executive career

Mayhew began his executive trajectory in scouting and personnel departments, joining the personnel staff of the Washington Redskins in the 1990s. He advanced through roles that included assistant director and director-level responsibilities with front offices such as the New York Giants and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before returning to the Washington Redskins in senior personnel capacities. In 2000s personnel cycles he worked on draft preparation, free agency evaluation, and cap management initiatives involving interactions with organizations like the NFL Players Association and conference counterparts in the NFC and AFC.

In 2008 Mayhew was hired by the Detroit Lions as general manager, succeeding prior leadership amid a period of organizational restructuring following seasons that included interactions with coaching staffs led by figures such as Rod Marinelli and Jim Schwartz. As Lions general manager, he oversaw player acquisitions, drafted prospects from institutions including the University of Alabama, Ohio State University, LSU, University of Florida, and Clemson University, and managed roster transitions involving veteran free agents and rookie classes. His tenure included collaboration with team owner William Clay Ford Jr. and coordination with salary cap advisers and medical staff. Mayhew later served as general manager of the Washington Football Team/Washington Commanders with responsibilities for scouting, draft strategy, contract negotiation, and long-term roster construction.

Throughout his executive career Mayhew participated in league-wide initiatives and meetings at NFL Spring League Meetings, NFL Scouting Combine events, and draft war rooms during NFL Draft weekends. He has been involved with landmark decisions affecting franchise direction, coaching hires, and multi-year organizational planning in major-market settings such as Detroit and Washington, D.C..

Coaching and scouting roles

Before and between front office appointments, Mayhew held coaching-adjacent and scouting positions that included regional scout, national personnel roles, and advisory functions for coaching staffs. He worked closely with position coaches and coordinators across NFL staffs, contributing to player evaluation for positions including cornerback, safety, and special teams units. His scouting remit extended to talent identification at Football Championship Subdivision programs, Division I FBS schools, and international prospects evaluated during NFL International Player Pathway-era initiatives. Mayhew's advisory roles have bridged scouting departments and coaching staffs, assisting with player development plans, practice-squad management, and transition strategies for rookies entering professional systems.

Personal life

Mayhew is married and has family ties within the Detroit and Washington, D.C. communities. Outside of football, he has applied his legal background from the Georgetown University Law Center to contract negotiations and compliance matters, and he has been active in community outreach and youth development programs that involve partnerships with organizations such as local United Way chapters and youth football initiatives. He maintains relationships with former teammates, colleagues from the NFL community, and alumni from Furman University.

Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:People from Spartanburg, South Carolina Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni Category:Furman University alumni Category:Washington Commanders executives Category:Detroit Lions executives