After playing college football for Weber State, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2009.

[3] He took part in arguably Weber State's most successful season in program history, in which the Wildcats won their first Big Sky Championship in 40 years and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs.

[10] Mailei was signed off the Eagles' practice squad by the New Orleans Saints on December 9, 2009, after the team waived fullback Kyle Eckel,[11] and played in two games.

Eckel was re-signed on December 21 when Mailei was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

[12] Mailei returned to the Saints in 2010 but suffered a leg injury during training camp; he was waived/injured on August 20, 2010,[13] and subsequently reverted to the team's injured reserve list after clearing waivers the next day.