{{Short description|American football player (born 2001)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Mason Fairchild | image = Mason Fairchild (54547547896) (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Fairchild with the DC Defenders in 2025 | current_team = DC Defenders | number = 84 | position = Tight end | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|8|30}}<ref name=birthday>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FairMa00.htm|title=Mason Fairchild Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College|website=pro-football-reference.com|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> | birth_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lb = 260 | high_school = Andale (Andale, Kansas) | college = Kansas (2019–2023) | undraftedyear = 2024 | pastteams = * New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2024}})* * DC Defenders ({{UFL Year|2025}}–present) | status = Active | highlights = * UFL champion (2025) * Second-team All-Big 12 (2022) | pfr = }} '''Mason Fairchild''' (born August 30, 2001)<ref name=birthday /> is an American professional football tight end for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He played in college at Kansas.
==Early life== Fairchild grew up in Andale, Kansas and attended Andale High School. In Fairchild's high school career he played both ways racking up 630 yards and 35 tackles.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kirby |first1=Jon |title=Mason Fairchild decides to stay home, commits to Kansas |url=https://kansas.rivals.com/news/mason-fairchild-decides-to-stay-home-commits-to-kansas |website=Rivals.com |date=9 December 2018 |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> Fairchild would decide to commit to play college football at the University of Kansas.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barber |first1=Hayden |title=Making history: One of Kansas' best high school football classes commits on signing day |url=https://www.kansas.com/sports/varsity-kansas/varsity-football/article223320470.html |website=The Wichita Eagle |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Benton |title=In-state recruits Jayden Russell and Mason Fairchild commit to Les Miles and KU football |url=https://www2.kusports.com/news/2018/dec/09/state-recruits-jayden-russell-and-mason-fairchild/ |website=KU Sports |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref>
==College career== In Fairchild's first season in 2019, he caught two passes for 32 yards.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mason Fairchild 2019 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mason-fairchild-1/gamelog/2019/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> In the 2020 season, Fairchild would haul in five receptions for 57 yards.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mason Fairchild 2020 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mason-fairchild-1/gamelog/2020/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> In week eleven of the 2021 season, Fairchild would bring in two receptions for 31 yards and his first career touchdown, as he helped the Jayhawks stun Texas 57–56.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kansas snaps losing skid and stuns Texas 57-56 in OT |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/gametracker/recap/NCAAF_20211113_KANSAS@TEXAS/ |website=CBS Sports |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Guskey |first1=Jordan |title=Kansas football beat Texas in overtime. Here's what we learned from the Jayhawks' upset |url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/sports/college/hawk-zone/2021/11/13/kansas-vs-texas-football-score-takeaways-ncaa-big-12-overtime-upset/6381258001/ |website=The Topeka Capital-Journal |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> Fairchild would finish the 2021 season with 13 receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mason Fairchild 2021 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mason-fairchild-1/gamelog/2021/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> In week six of the 2022 season, Fairchild would have an excellent performance, making three catches for 80 yards and a touchdown, but Kansas would narrowly fall to TCU 38–31.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Swaffar |first1=Nathan |title=Tight end Mason Fairchild 'made some big plays' on his way to a career performance vs TCU |url=https://247sports.com/college/kansas/article/kansas-football-tight-end-mason-fairchild-made-some-big-plays-on-his-way-to-a-career-performance-vs-tcu-195160679/ |website=247Sports |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Guskey |first1=Jordan |title=Recap: Kansas football loses 38-31 against TCU in Big 12 Conference matchup |url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/sports/college/hawk-zone/2022/10/08/ku-football-kansas-score-tcu-live-updates-highlights-big-12-jayhawks/69545867007/ |website=The Topeka Capital-Journal |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> In the following week, in week seven, Fairchild would have another amazing showing, hauling in six passes for 106 yards and two touchdown, but again the Jayhawks would fall, this time to Oklahoma 52–42.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bedore |first1=Gary |title=Oklahoma beats No. 19 Kansas 52-42 in Big 12 football game |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article267345922.html |website=The Kansas City Star |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gabriel helps Sooners top No. 19 Kansas, end skid at 3 games |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/gametracker/recap/NCAAF_20221015_KANSAS@OKLA/ |website=CBS Sports |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> Fairchild would have another great game in the 2022 Liberty Bowl, where he brought in six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown, but the Jayhawks could not pull off the win, losing 55–53 in triple overtime against Arkansas.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Guskey |first1=Jordan |title=KU football vs. Arkansas recap: Razorbacks win 55-53 in 3 overtimes in Liberty Bowl |url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/sports/college/hawk-zone/2022/12/28/ku-football-score-arkansas-kansas-live-updates-liberty-bowl-highlights/69762618007/ |website=The Topeka Capital-Journal |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kansas rallies, but Arkansas wins Liberty Bowl 55-53 in 3OTs |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/gametracker/recap/NCAAF_20221228_KANSAS@ARK/ |website=CBS Sports |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> Fairchild would finish his breakout 2022 season with 35 receptions for 443 yards and six touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mason Fairchild 2022 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mason-fairchild-1/gamelog/2022/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> For his performance on the season, Fairchild was named second team all Big-12.<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced |url=https://big12sports.com/news/2022/11/30/2022-all-big-12-football-awards-announced.aspx |website=Big-12 Conference |date=30 November 2022 |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Tait |first1=Matt |title=KU's Cobee Bryant named first-team all-Big 12 by league's coaches; 8 other Jayhawks also honored |url=https://www2.kusports.com/news/2022/nov/30/kus-cobee-bryant-named-first-team-all-big-12-leagu/ |website=KU Sports |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> Ahead of the 2023 season, Fairchild was named a preseason third-team all-Big 12 selection by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weber |first1=Alex |title=Phil Steele releases 2023 preseason All-Big 12 team |url=https://www.on3.com/news/phil-steele-releases-2023-preseason-all-big-12-team/ |website=On3.com |date=8 July 2023 |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lassan |first1=Steven |title=Big 12 Football 2023 All-Conference Team |url=https://athlonsports.com/college-football/big-12-football-2023-all-conference-team |website=Athlon Sports |date=22 May 2023 |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref> Fairchild would also be named to the John Mackey Award watch list, which is given to the nation's best tight end.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Mitts |first1=Andy |title=Preseason Recognition Continues to Pile Up For Jayhawks |url=https://www.si.com/college/kansas/football/preseason-recognition-continues-to-pile-up-for-jayhawks-21-days-until-kansas-football |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=12 August 2023 |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fair |first1=Daniel |title=Andale native, KU tight end added to prestigious award watch list |url=https://www.ksn.com/sports/jayhawks/andale-native-ku-tight-end-added-to-prestigious-award-watch-list/ |website=KSN |date=5 August 2023 |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref>
==Professional career==
=== New Orleans Saints === On August 3, 2024, Fairchild signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/kevin-rader-mason-fairchild-new-orleans-saints-roster-moves-announced-tight-ends|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=August 3, 2024}}</ref> He was waived by the Saints on August 7,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mason Fairchild: Gets let go|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/mason-fairchild-gets-let-go/|access-date=August 16, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> but re–signed with the team on August 14.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Darrion |date=August 14, 2024 |title=Saints bring back TE Mason Fairchild, waive rookie DT Kyler Baugh |url=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/14/saints-cut-rookie-kyler-baugh-nfl-mason-fairchild-roster-moves/ |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=Saints Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en}}</ref> He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad, but released the next day.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-53-man-roster-cuts-moves-transactions-august-27-2024-nfl-season|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=August 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-2024-practice-squad-announced-roster-moves-transactions-2024-nfl-season|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
=== DC Defenders === On December 12, 2024, Fairchild signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL).<ref>{{Cite web |title=UFL Transactions |url=https://uflboard.com/ufl-transactions/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=UFLBoard.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://kuathletics.com/roster/mason-fairchild/ Kansas Jayhawks bio]
{{DC Defenders roster navbox}} {{2025 DC Defenders}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fairchild, Mason}} Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Kansas Category:Sportspeople from Sedgwick County, Kansas Category:American football tight ends Category:Kansas Jayhawks football players Category:New Orleans Saints players Category:DC Defenders players Category:21st-century American sportsmen {{tightend-stub}}