Mawae, the 16-season NFL pivotman who spent the most productive eight seasons of his career with the New York Jets from 1998-2005, for the second February was one of 15 finalists to go before the 47-member Selection Committee but was not included among the five Modern Era finalists and eight members overall who were introduced tonight as the new inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mawae was well aware of the possibility that, in his fourth year of eligibility, he might not be entering pro football's shrine in Canton, Ohio, this August.
“If I don’t make it, I’ll still be happy I’m one of the 15,” Mawae said this week.