Last Updated on November 4, 2026 by Tanos Potter
Cade Mays is an American football offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Born on April 26, 1999, Mays grew up in Tennessee in a family with strong connections to college football. His father was an All-Southeastern Conference offensive lineman at the University of Tennessee, while his younger brother followed the same path and became a standout center for the Volunteers.
Cade Mays’ family includes his father, Kevin Mays, his mother, Melinda Mays, and his two younger brothers, Cooper and Camp Mays. Football has been an important part of the family’s history, with Cade representing the University of Georgia and Tennessee before beginning his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers and later joining the Detroit Lions.
Cade Mays’ Girlfriend and Relationship Status
Does Cade Mays Have a Girlfriend?
As of now, Cade Mays has not publicly confirmed the identity of a girlfriend or romantic partner through reliable interviews or established sports publications.
The Detroit Lions offensive lineman has generally maintained a private personal life. Most of his public interviews focus on football, his relationship with his brothers, his father’s athletic background and his experiences playing college football.
His official biographies published by the University of Tennessee, University of Georgia and Detroit Lions do not identify a girlfriend or provide details about his dating history.
Although various individuals share the name Cade Mays, public relationship announcements should not automatically be attributed to the NFL player without reliable evidence confirming his identity.
Consequently, there is insufficient verified information to identify a current girlfriend or fiancée.
Is Cade Mays Married?
As of now, there is no independently verified public announcement confirming that Detroit Lions offensive lineman Cade Mays is married.
Established sports reporting and official player biographies have not conclusively identified a wife or documented a wedding involving him.
However, the absence of a public announcement does not establish that Mays is single. His marital and relationship status remains publicly unconfirmed.
Cade Mays’ Children
Does Cade Mays Have a Son or Daughter?
As of now, Cade Mays has no publicly confirmed children.
Neither the Detroit Lions nor established sports publications have provided verified information identifying the offensive lineman as the father of a son or daughter.
There has also been no reliably documented announcement confirming that he is expecting a baby.
Mays has spoken publicly about his relationship with his parents and younger brothers, but he has not consistently discussed his own parental status.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to definitively claim that he has no children. The available information only establishes that no children have been publicly confirmed through reliable sources.
Cade Mays’ Parents
Cade Mays was born to Kevin Mays and Melinda Mays. Both parents have supported their son’s athletic development and played important roles in the family’s longstanding connection to Tennessee football.
Their identities are confirmed in Cade’s official University of Tennessee football biography, which lists his full name as Cade Montgomery Mays.
The couple raised three sons, Cade, Cooper and Camp, in Tennessee, where football became an important part of family life.
Kevin Mays – Cade Mays’ Father
Kevin Mays is Cade Mays’ father and a former college football offensive guard at the University of Tennessee.
Kevin played for the Tennessee Volunteers from 1991 through 1994, competing during the early years of head coach Phillip Fulmer’s tenure.
During his senior season in 1994, he earned All-SEC recognition and served as an offensive captain for the Volunteers.
His football achievements helped establish a family tradition that his two oldest sons would eventually continue.
Kevin introduced Cade and Cooper to football while they were growing up and helped them understand the physical demands of playing on the offensive line.
In March 2022, Cooper discussed his father’s influence during an appearance on the University of Tennessee’s official podcast, The Slice.
He explained that Kevin emphasized reacting quickly when the ball was snapped and competing with maximum effort throughout every play.
These lessons became important parts of the brothers’ development as offensive linemen.
Kevin also remained closely involved in their college recruitment decisions.
When Cade became one of the nation’s most highly regarded high school football prospects, Kevin helped him evaluate scholarship opportunities from major universities.
Although Cade initially committed to Tennessee, he eventually enrolled at the University of Georgia in 2018.
Following two seasons with the Bulldogs, Cade transferred to Tennessee in January 2020, allowing him to continue his father’s football legacy while playing alongside his younger brother Cooper.
The decision was particularly meaningful for Kevin, who had hoped to see his sons represent the same university.
Kevin Mays’ Injury During Cade’s College Recruitment
One widely reported incident involving the Mays family occurred during Cade’s recruitment to the University of Georgia.
On December 15, 2017, Kevin attended a recruiting dinner at Georgia’s Sanford Stadium alongside Melinda, Cade and Cooper.
According to legal filings reported by Sports Illustrated and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Kevin suffered a serious injury when his right little finger became trapped in a folding chair.
The accident resulted in the partial amputation of his finger.
In December 2019, Kevin and Melinda filed a lawsuit against the university and other parties connected to the incident.
The case received widespread media attention, particularly after Cade transferred from Georgia to Tennessee in January 2020.
Although the incident became part of the public discussion surrounding Cade’s college career, his opportunity to play alongside Cooper was also an important reason for the family’s excitement about his transfer.
Melinda Mays – Cade Mays’ Mother
Melinda Mays is Cade Mays’ mother and the wife of former Tennessee football player Kevin Mays.
Her identity is confirmed in official University of Tennessee athletics records for both Cade and Cooper.
Melinda raised the couple’s three sons in Tennessee and has supported their football careers from childhood through college and professional competition.
Although she generally maintains a private public profile, Melinda has appeared in reporting about the family’s experiences during Cade’s college recruitment.
She accompanied Kevin and their sons on recruiting visits and was among the family members involved in the legal proceedings following Kevin’s injury at Georgia.
Melinda’s role in the household was also mentioned during an August 2019 interview between Cade and University of Georgia athletics writer John Frierson.
During the interview, Cade discussed the large meals his family prepared because several members of the household were unusually tall and physically active.
He recalled that his mother sometimes prepared meals using several pounds of meat to feed the family.
The interview also described family gatherings involving homemade dishes and visits from relatives.
These memories provided a glimpse into the household where Cade and his younger brothers grew up.
Melinda has continued supporting her sons’ football journeys, although reliable public sources provide limited information about her professional occupation and other aspects of her personal life.
Cade Mays’ Siblings
Cade Mays has two younger brothers, Cooper Mays and Camp Mays. Their identities are confirmed through University of Tennessee athletics records and interviews with Cade.
Cade is the oldest of the three brothers.
Cooper Mays – Cade Mays’ Younger Brother
Cooper Morgan Mays is Cade Mays’ younger brother and a former college football center for the University of Tennessee.
Born on March 11, 2001, Cooper grew up in Tennessee and developed an interest in football under the influence of his father and older brother.
Like Cade, Cooper attended Knoxville Catholic High School, where he became a highly regarded offensive line prospect.
During his high school career, Cooper earned multiple All-State honors and attracted scholarship offers from major college football programs.
He eventually committed to the University of Tennessee in June 2019, following the family’s longstanding connection to the Volunteers.
Cooper joined Tennessee in 2020 and developed into one of the team’s most dependable offensive linemen.
His arrival coincided with Cade’s decision to transfer from Georgia, allowing the brothers to become teammates.
Cade Mays and Cooper Mays Playing Together at Tennessee
One of the most significant moments in the Mays family’s football history occurred when Cade transferred to Tennessee in January 2020.
The move reunited the brothers, who had dreamed of playing college football together.
Cade and Cooper shared the Volunteers’ offensive line during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
In an interview following his selection by the Carolina Panthers in the 2022 NFL Draft, Cade explained that playing alongside his brother had been an important personal goal.
When Cade announced his intention to enter the NFL Draft in January 2022, he publicly thanked Cooper and described their time together at Tennessee as a special experience.
Cooper subsequently continued his college career, becoming Tennessee’s starting center for four consecutive seasons.
During the 2024 campaign, he earned first-team All-American recognition and became a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, awarded to the nation’s outstanding center.
He also earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Tennessee in May 2024.
Throughout his college career, Cooper frequently credited Cade for providing advice about football and important career decisions.
In December 2023, he discussed how his older brother helped him evaluate whether to return to Tennessee for another season.
Cooper explained that Cade encouraged him to make the decision that best matched his own goals rather than allowing outside opinions to determine his future.
The brothers’ relationship remains one of the most extensively documented aspects of Cade Mays’ personal life.
Camp Mays – Cade Mays’ Youngest Brother
Camp Mays is Cade Mays’ youngest brother and the youngest son of Kevin and Melinda Mays.
His identity is confirmed in Cooper Mays’ official University of Tennessee biography and Cade’s public statements.
Unlike his older brothers, Camp has generally remained outside the national sports spotlight.
However, Cade has occasionally discussed his youngest brother in interviews.
During an August 2019 interview published by University of Georgia Athletics, Cade described Camp as the youngest member of the family.
At the time, Camp was approximately four years old.
Cade jokingly recalled that his youngest brother had an enormous appetite despite his young age.
The interview highlighted the affectionate relationship between the brothers and the family’s enjoyment of spending time together.
Camp was also mentioned in Cade’s announcement declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft.
In the announcement, Cade described Camp as his biggest fan and thanked him for allowing Cade to serve as a role model.
His comments reflected the close relationship he maintained with his youngest brother despite the considerable age difference between them.
As of now, Camp’s education, athletic activities and other personal details have not been extensively documented in reliable public reporting.
Cade Mays’ Family Background and Childhood
Cade Mays grew up in the Knoxville area of Tennessee, surrounded by a family with strong connections to the University of Tennessee football program.
His father, Kevin, had competed for the Volunteers during the 1990s, establishing a family tradition that influenced both Cade and Cooper.
Growing up, the brothers developed an interest in playing on the offensive line and spent considerable time training and competing.
Cade attended Knoxville Catholic High School, where he became one of the nation’s top football recruits.
During his high school career, he earned Tennessee Mr. Football recognition in consecutive seasons and helped his team win the Class 5A state championship in 2017.
Major recruiting services ranked him among the country’s leading offensive tackles.
He initially committed to Tennessee but eventually chose the University of Georgia, where he began his college career in 2018.
At Georgia, Cade earned Freshman All-American recognition and demonstrated his versatility by playing several positions across the offensive line.
After the 2019 season, he transferred to Tennessee, where he played alongside Cooper.
The move allowed Cade to return to his home state and continue the family’s association with the Volunteers.
During the 2021 season, he earned second-team All-SEC recognition while playing primarily at right tackle.
He eventually entered the 2022 NFL Draft after appearing in 42 college football games and making 35 starts.
Cade Mays’ Journey to the Detroit Lions
The Carolina Panthers selected Cade Mays in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 199th overall pick.
He began his professional career as a versatile offensive lineman capable of playing multiple positions.
During his first four NFL seasons, Mays spent most of his time with Carolina, along with a brief period on the New York Giants’ practice squad in 2024.
He eventually developed into a regular contributor at center for the Panthers.
In March 2026, Mays joined the Detroit Lions after agreeing to a three-year contract worth up to $25 million.
The Lions officially announced his signing on March 12, 2026, identifying him as an important addition to their offensive line.
Detroit intended for Mays to help provide stability at center following changes to the team’s offensive front.
His arrival represented another important milestone in a football journey influenced by his parents and younger brothers.
As of now, Mays wears jersey number 64 for the Detroit Lions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cade Mays’ Family
Who is Cade Mays’ girlfriend?
As of now, Cade Mays has not publicly confirmed the identity of a girlfriend through reliable reporting. His romantic relationship status remains private.
Is Cade Mays married?
There is no independently verified public announcement confirming that Detroit Lions offensive lineman Cade Mays is married or identifying a wife.
Does Cade Mays have children?
Cade Mays has no publicly confirmed children. Reliable sources have not established whether he has a son or daughter.
Who are Cade Mays’ parents?
Cade Mays’ parents are Kevin Mays and Melinda Mays. His father played college football for the University of Tennessee and earned All-SEC honors in 1994.
Who is Cade Mays’ father?
His father is Kevin Mays, a former Tennessee Volunteers offensive guard who played for the university from 1991 through 1994 and served as a team captain.
Who is Cade Mays’ mother?
His mother is Melinda Mays, who raised Cade and his two younger brothers alongside her husband, Kevin Mays.
How many siblings does Cade Mays have?
Cade Mays has two younger brothers, Cooper Mays and Camp Mays.
Who is Cade Mays’ brother Cooper?
Cooper Mays is a former University of Tennessee center who played alongside Cade during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He later became a first-team All-American and a Rimington Trophy finalist.
Who is Cade Mays’ youngest brother?
Cade Mays’ youngest brother is Camp Mays, whom he publicly described as his biggest fan during his announcement for the 2022 NFL Draft.
What is Cade Mays’ full name?
His full name is Cade Montgomery Mays, according to the University of Tennessee’s official athletics biography.
Where is Cade Mays from?
Cade Mays grew up in Tennessee and attended Knoxville Catholic High School before playing college football at Georgia and Tennessee.
Tanos Potter is a sports journalist and NFL analyst dedicated to bringing fans closer to the gridiron through deep tactical analysis and roster coverage. He breaks down offensive and defensive schemes, quarterback performance, trade moves, and top Draft prospects. Tracking action across both the AFC and NFC, Tanos translates complex playbooks and statistics into engaging, actionable insights for football enthusiasts.
