He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and was selected in the fifth round (144th overall) of the 2023 NFL draft by the New England Patriots.
[4][5] Recruited to UCLA to play on the defensive line, Mafi was measured at 411 pounds when he first entered the school.
[6] One of his favorite meals at the time consisted of five beef patties with cheese, a double order of fries and a milkshake, which totaled 177 grams of fat and 3,240 calories, over 150% the daily recommended intake.
[7] Mafi slimmed down to 357 by the beginning of the 2019 season, and posted 28 tackles, including four TFLs, one sack and one forced fumble while appearing in 12 games, five of which he started.
[8] Prior to the 2023 NFL draft, the Los Angeles Times published a weekly diary written by Mafi.