Maxwell Tooley Bio
Maxwell Tooley is an American professional football linebacker born on March 5, 1998, in Bountiful, Utah. Standing 6 ft 2 in and playing around 225 lb, Tooley has built his career on tackling, coverage, and playmaking at the linebacker position. After a standout college tenure with the BYU Cougars, he entered the National Football League as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and has continued his career through stints with the Houston Texans and the Minnesota Vikings organization.
Early Life and Background
Maxwell Tooley grew up in Bountiful, Utah, where he attended Bountiful High School. Coming out of high school, he was rated as a three-star recruit and drew attention from several college programs. He ultimately committed to play college football at Brigham Young University, choosing to develop his game within the Cougars program.
Tooley comes from a community with deep ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he is a member of that faith. Following high school and before settling into his college routine, he served a mission for the church in London, England, an experience that he has often referenced as formative in his personal development.
Path to American Football
Tooley’s path to professional football began in earnest when he joined the BYU Cougars in 2018. During his first two seasons in 2018 and 2019, he appeared in 17 combined games and recorded 50 tackles with two tackles for loss and an interception, giving the Cougars a reliable contributor in the front seven while he adjusted to the college level.
The COVID-shortened 2020 season limited opportunities, but Tooley continued to produce, notching 44 tackles with three tackles for loss, a pass deflection, and an interception. In 2021, his role expanded further as he posted 68 tackles, five and a half tackles for loss, a sack, three pass deflections, and an interception, signaling his growth into a more complete linebacker.
Maxwell Tooley Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Tooley’s early college years at BYU were marked by steady development and consistent tackle production. Across his first three seasons, he built a reputation as a dependable defender who could contribute on early downs and in coverage, posting a combined 162 tackles and multiple interceptions from 2018 through 2021.
His progress was reflected in expanded responsibilities, including increased snaps on passing downs and occasional pass-rush opportunities, as evidenced by his sack production in 2021. By the end of his junior season, Tooley had established himself as one of the steadier linebackers in the BYU defensive rotation.
Senior Seasons at BYU (2022–2023)
The 2022 season was a breakthrough year for Tooley. In the opening week, he recorded five tackles and an interception that he returned for his first career touchdown in a 50-21 win over South Florida, immediately showcasing his ball skills. Later that season, in week six, he tallied 13 tackles along with another interception against Notre Dame.
Tooley finished the 2022 season with 57 tackles, a forced fumble, three interceptions, and two touchdowns, demonstrating a rare combination of tackling volume and turnover production. During his final collegiate campaign in 2023, he posted 92 tackles with five tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble, capping his BYU career as one of the program’s most productive linebackers of his era.
Houston Texans Era (2024)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL draft, Tooley signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent, earning an early opportunity to compete for a roster spot. He was waived on August 27, 2024, but quickly returned to the organization on the practice squad.
His initial tenure with the Texans was brief, as he was released on September 17, 2024. Even so, the short stretch gave Tooley his first exposure to a professional locker room and the daily demands of an NFL program, an experience that helped shape his next steps.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2024–Present)
On September 19, 2024, Tooley was signed to the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings, providing another opportunity to continue developing at the professional level. On January 16, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with Minnesota, securing his place within the organization beyond that season.
Tooley was waived by the Vikings on July 30, 2025, and then re-signed on August 13, 2025, before being waived again on August 19. Despite the movement on and off the roster, he has remained part of the Vikings’ pipeline of young linebackers and continues to pursue a regular-season role.
Driving Style and Strengths
Tooley’s game as a linebacker is built around tackling volume, reliable open-field pursuit, and a knack for creating turnovers. He showed consistent ball skills at BYU, finishing with multiple interception return touchdowns in 2022, and he has demonstrated the size and physicality needed to take on blocks at the second level while staying clean in coverage.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most memorable moments, Tooley’s 2022 pick-six against South Florida stands out as his first career touchdown, while his 13-tackle, interception performance against Notre Dame highlighted his ability to rise against high-profile opponents. His final collegiate season, in which he recorded 92 tackles, served as a strong bookend to his BYU career.
Maxwell Tooley Career Highlights
BYU Highlights
Across his college career with the BYU Cougars from 2018 through 2023, Tooley developed into one of the program’s more productive linebackers. His 2022 season, which included three interceptions and two touchdowns, marked his most dynamic statistical year, while his 2023 campaign produced a career-high 92 tackles.
Other Performances
Tooley has recorded interception return touchdowns and multiple multi-interception games at the college level. His professional performances to this point have primarily come on practice squads as he works toward a larger role.
Maxwell Tooley Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Maxwell Tooley was raised in Bountiful, Utah, and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Following high school, he served a mission for the church in London, England, an experience that preceded his arrival at BYU.
2025 Season Performance
Maxwell Tooley’s 2025 storyline centers on staying ready for an opportunity with the Minnesota Vikings. After signing a reserve/future contract in January 2025, he was waived in late July, re-signed in mid-August, and waived again on August 19, 2025, illustrating the constant movement of young linebackers trying to secure a roster spot.
Through these transactions, Tooley has remained inside the Vikings’ system, giving him continued chances to compete in training camp and the preseason. His mix of special teams upside, tackling reliability, and prior turnover production offers a path toward a practice squad or active roster role as the regular season approaches.
Looking ahead, Tooley’s outlook depends on staying healthy, continuing to develop in coverage, and taking advantage of any chance he gets during the season. If he can translate his BYU production into consistent professional play, he has the tools to carve out a longer NFL career in the Vikings organization or elsewhere around the league.