Mason Fairchild Bio
Mason Fairchild (born August 30, 2001) is an American professional football tight end for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). A native of Andale, Kansas, Fairchild played his college football at the University of Kansas before beginning his professional career. Listed at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and 256 lb (116 kg), he wears jersey No. 84 and has quickly transitioned from a productive college tight end into a contributing professional player. In 2025, he helped the Defenders capture the UFL championship, marking an early career highlight in the spring football league.
Early Life and Background
Mason Fairchild was born on August 30, 2001, in Andale, Kansas, a small community located northwest of Wichita. He grew up in Andale and attended Andale High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete and a two-way football player. During his high school career, Fairchild lined up on both sides of the ball, accumulating 630 receiving yards and 35 tackles, demonstrating the versatility and toughness that would later define his tight end profile.
Fairchild’s high school production drew interest from college programs, and he ultimately decided to commit to the University of Kansas to continue his football career. The decision to stay in his home state allowed him to develop within a familiar environment while pursuing a higher level of competition. His combination of size, hands, and blocking ability made him a fit for the Jayhawks’ offense, where he would spend the next five seasons refining his craft.
Path to Professional Football
Fairchild enrolled at the University of Kansas in 2019 and began his collegiate career as a developmental tight end. Over his first two seasons, he saw limited action, catching two passes for 32 yards in 2019 and five receptions for 57 yards in 2020. His role expanded in 2021, when he recorded 13 receptions for 128 yards and his first career touchdown, a two-reception, 31-yard performance that helped Kansas stun Texas 57–56 in one of the signature upsets of the Big 12 Conference that year.
Fairchild’s true breakout came in 2022, when he emerged as one of the most productive tight ends in the Big 12. He posted standout games against TCU, Oklahoma, and in the Liberty Bowl against Arkansas, finishing the season with 35 receptions for 443 yards and six touchdowns. His performance earned him Second-team All-Big 12 honors, and heading into 2023 he was named a preseason third-team All-Big 12 selection by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports. He was also placed on the John Mackey Award watch list, awarded annually to the nation’s best tight end, underscoring his growing reputation as a pass-catching threat at the position.
Mason Fairchild Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Fairchild’s early college years were spent learning the Jayhawks’ system and adjusting to the speed and physicality of FBS football. From 2019 through 2021, he served primarily as a rotational tight end, contributing on special teams and in situational offensive packages while building a rapport with Kansas quarterbacks. His first career touchdown, in 2021 against Texas, served as a turning point that set the stage for his emergence as a featured piece of the offense.
The 2022 and 2023 seasons represented his development into a complete tight end. In 2022, he delivered the most productive year of his college career, racking up 35 catches, 443 yards, and six touchdowns, while earning All-Big 12 recognition. He followed that with a strong 2023 campaign, again drawing national attention as a John Mackey Award watch list member and a preseason All-Big 12 selection.
New Orleans Saints (2024)
Following the 2023 college season, Fairchild declared for the 2024 NFL Draft but went undrafted. On August 3, 2024, he signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent, beginning his push to make an NFL roster. His initial stay was brief, as he was waived on August 7, but he re-signed with the team on August 14 to continue competing for a depth role at tight end.
Fairchild was waived again on August 27 and re-signed to the Saints’ practice squad, only to be released the following day. Despite the short tenure, the experience gave him exposure to an NFL training camp and the daily demands of a professional organization. After his release, he became a free agent looking for his next professional opportunity.
DC Defenders Era (2025–Present)
On December 12, 2024, Mason Fairchild signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League, joining the spring league for the 2025 season. The move offered him a clear path to consistent playing time and a chance to refine his skills within the UFL’s offensive schemes. As a tight end, he has continued to provide a blend of inline blocking and pass-catching ability, serving as a reliable target in the red zone and on intermediate routes.
Fairchild’s 2025 campaign with the Defenders culminated in a UFL championship, the first major professional title of his young career. The victory represented a defining moment for the former Kansas Jayhawk, validating his decision to continue pursuing professional football after his release from the Saints. His role with the Defenders has positioned him as a contributing member of one of the UFL’s most competitive rosters.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 ft 4 in and 256 lb, Fairchild fits the modern mold of a move tight end who can align in-line, in the slot, or detached from the formation. His college production shows reliable hands in traffic and the ability to gain yards after the catch, particularly on crossing routes and seam throws. Defensively, his willingness to engage as a blocker in the run game has been a hallmark of his approach since his Andale High School days.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Fairchild’s career are his first career touchdown against Texas in 2021, his breakout 2022 season that earned All-Big 12 recognition, and the 2025 UFL championship with the DC Defenders. Each milestone reflects a steady progression from small-town Kansas high school standout to a champion at the professional level.
Mason Fairchild Career Wins
Fairchild’s verified professional championship is the 2025 UFL title won with the DC Defenders. That championship stands as the headline achievement of his professional résumé to date and marks his first team title at any level of organized football. Additional individual accolades include his Second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022, which highlighted his emergence as one of the top tight ends in the conference during his junior campaign.
DC Defenders Highlights
With the DC Defenders in 2025, Fairchild contributed as a tight end on a championship roster, providing depth and production at the position throughout the season. The UFL title adds a meaningful professional accomplishment early in his post-college career and gives him a foundation to build on in future UFL and potential NFL opportunities.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Fairchild’s most notable performances came during the 2022 season, when he posted multiple 80-plus yard receiving games and scored six total touchdowns. His 106-yard, two-touchdown outing against Oklahoma and his 80-yard, one-touchdown performance in the Liberty Bowl against Arkansas stand out as the brightest individual showings of his college career.
Mason Fairchild Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mason Fairchild grew up in Andale, Kansas, where he was raised in a close-knit community that supported his athletic development from a young age. He attended Andale High School, where he was a standout two-way player, accumulating 630 receiving yards and 35 tackles during his prep career. His commitment to the University of Kansas allowed him to continue his football journey close to home.
Personal Life
Fairchild is an American citizen, born and raised in the United States, and currently pursues his professional football career in the UFL. He maintains an active presence on social media, where fans can follow his updates and progress as a player. Beyond his on-field work, little additional public personal information is widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Fairchild’s 2025 season with the DC Defenders represented his first full professional campaign, and the year delivered a championship outcome. Joining the UFL roster in December 2024, he spent the offseason integrating into the Defenders’ offensive system and building chemistry with the team’s quarterbacks. His blocking and receiving contributions helped the team compete at a high level throughout the spring season.
The Defenders’ run to the UFL title was the defining storyline of Fairchild’s 2025, and his role on the roster grew as the season progressed. With the championship secured, attention turns to whether he can leverage the success into another NFL opportunity or a larger role within the UFL heading into 2026. For now, the 2025 title provides a strong foundation and a clear sign that Fairchild belongs in professional football.