After joining the New York Jets in 1998, he received six consecutive Pro Bowl selections and five-first All-Pro honors during his eight seasons with the team.

Mawae spent his final four seasons as a member of the Tennessee Titans, extending his Pro Bowl selections to eight and his first-team All-Pro honors to seven.

Mawae attended Leesville High School, where he was an all-state football selection and earned all-academic honors.

Mawae saw his first pro action at right guard against the Los Angeles Raiders on September 11,[6] and never left the lineup after taking over early in the game versus the Indianapolis Colts.

[2] In 1999, he was named to his first Pro Bowl on December 22, he did not miss a play for the second straight season and paved the way for Martin's then franchise-record of 1,464 yards rushing, and snapped to three different quarterbacks; Vinny Testaverde, Rick Mirer and Ray Lucas.

[2] his unbroken streak of 177 games came to an end in October 2005 with a serious triceps injury to his left arm, and he missed the rest of the season.

The Titans set a franchise record by averaging 4.7 yards per carry, and the offensive line, led by Mawae, finished tied for 10th in the league with only 29 sacks allowed,[8] Titans running back Travis Henry finished 2006 with 1,211 rushing yards and rookie quarterback Vince Young was named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.

In 2007, Mawae was voted team captain and started 14 games, helping LenDale White register his first career 1,000-yard season as he finished with 1,110.

[13] In September 2010, Mawae announced his retirement from the NFL,[14] however he continued to serve as president until the end of his term in March 2012.

During the NFL kickoff game broadcast in 2010, players from the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings "raised an index finger" as they took the field, a gesture Mawae has called "one of the proudest moments I ever had".

[19] In March 2018 Mawae joined the Arizona State University football staff as a quality control analyst where he was reunited with his former New York Jets head coach, Herm Edwards.

[20] In February 2021, Mawae joined the Indianapolis Colts football staff as an assistant offensive line coach.

[21] On January 23, 2023, Mawae became the head coach of the Lipscomb Academy football team in Nashville, Tennessee, replacing Trent Dilfer.

[22] On November 3, 2023, he and Lipscomb Academy "mutually agreed to part ways" after the school received a two-year post-season ban for violating a recruiting rule, two of which took place prior to him becoming the head coach.

John, a former nose guard at LSU, left a profound effect on Kevin by establishing a strong faith prior to his death.