{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Max Tooley | image = | alt = | caption = | current_team = | number = | position = Linebacker | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|3|5}} | birth_place = Bountiful, Utah, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lb = 225 | high_school = Bountiful | college = BYU (2018–2023) | undraftedyear = 2024 | pastteams = * Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2024}})* * Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2024}})* | status = | highlights = | statseason = 2024 | statweek = | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = | statlabel2 = Games started | statvalue2 = | pfr = ToolMa00 }}
'''Maxwell Tooley''' (born March 5, 1998)<ref name=birthday>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/53793/|title=Max Tooley|website=ourlads.com|access-date=May 17, 2024}}</ref> is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the BYU Cougars.
== Early life == Tooley attended high school at Bountiful in Utah. Coming out of high school, Tooley was rated as a three star recruit where he decided to commit to play college football for the BYU Cougars.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schaefer |first1=Kevin |title=BYU football recruiting: 3-star safety Max Tooley commits to the Cougars |url=https://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2015/9/16/9342723/byu-football-recruiting-3-star-safety-max-tooley-commits-to-the-Cougars |website=Vanquish The Foe |date=16 September 2015 |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Steves |first1=Talo |title=Maxwell Tooley Fulfills Lifelong Dream |url=https://247sports.com/college/byu/article/bountiful-defensive-back-maxwell-tooley-fulfilled-a-childhood-dream-with-his-commitment-to-at-byu-75047168/ |website=247Sports |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref>
== College career == In Tooley's first two seasons with BYU in 2018 and 2019, he played in 17 totaled games, where he recorded 50 tackles with two being for a loss, and an interception.<ref>{{cite web |title=60 in 60: #20 BYU's Max Tooley (Linebacker) |url=https://kslsports.com/502070/60-in-60-20-byus-max-tooley-linebacker/ |website=KSL Sports |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref> During the COVID shorted 2020 season, Tooley notched 44 tackles with three going for a loss, a pass deflection, and an interception.<ref>{{cite web |title=60 in 60: #31 BYU's Max Tooley (Linebacker) |url=https://kslsports.com/489088/60-in-60-byu-max-tooley-linebacker/ |website=KSL Sports |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref> In 2021, Tooley would finish the season posting 68 tackles with five and a half being for a loss, a sack, three pass deflections, and an interception.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ireland |first=Kyle |date=April 27, 2024 |title=Former BYU LB Max Tooley Signs With Houston Texans |url=https://kslsports.com/516053/byu-max-tooley-signs-houston-texans/ |access-date=18 May 2024 |website=KSL Sports}}</ref> In week one of the 2022 season, Tooley recorded five tackles and an interception which he returned for his first career touchdown in a 50-21 win over South Florida.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Drew |first1=Jay |title=Linebacker Max Tooley brings humor, hitting ability and ball skills to Cougars' defense |url=https://www.deseret.com/2022/9/7/23338494/byu-football-max-tooley-pick-six-big-moment-in-win-vs-soouth-florida/|website=Deseret News |date=7 September 2022 |access-date=17 May 2024}}</ref> In week six, Tooley tallied 13 tackles as well as an interception for the Cougars versus Notre Dame.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCann |first1=Dave |title=Max Tooley now a leader on BYU's defense. Here's how it happened |url=https://www.deseret.com/2022/10/13/23401583/how-byu-linebacker-max-tooley-became-a-leader-on-cougars-defense/ |website=Deseret News |date=13 October 2022 |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref> Tooley finished the 2022 season notching 57 tackles, a forced fumble, three interceptions, and two touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCann |first1=Dave |title=For BYU linebackers Max Tooley and Ben Bywater, the long wait is almost over |url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/4/22/23686566/byu-cougars-linebackers-max-tooley-ben-bywater-recovering-nicely-from-offseason-surgeries/ |website=Deseret News |date=22 April 2023 |access-date=17 May 2024}}</ref> During Tooley's final collegiate season he totaled 92 tackles with five being for a loss, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Davis |first1=Coty |title=Texans to Receive Major Boost at Linebacker From UDFA Max Tooley? |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/houston-texans-receive-major-boost-linebacker-from-udfa-max-tooley |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=May 2024 |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref>
== Professional career == {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 2 1/8 | weight = 229 | dash = 4.58 | ten split = 1.71 | twenty split = 2.64 | shuttle = 4.54 | cone drill = 7.34 | vertical = 34.5 | broad ft = 10 | broad in = 2 | arm span = 32 1/4 | hand span = 9 1/4 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1025105&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Max Tooley College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=May 17, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://kslsports.com/514195/byu-football-big-12-pro-day-official-results-aidan-robbins-max-tooley/ |title=Big 12 Pro Day Official Results: How BYU Football Players Performed |website=KSLSports.com |access-date=June 17, 2024}}</ref> }}
=== Houston Texans=== After not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, Tooley decided to sign with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Lundquist |first1=Casey |title=Five BYU Football Players Ink Free Agent Deals |url=https://www.si.com/college/byu/cougars-in-the-pros/five-byu-players-ink-free-agent-deals |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=28 April 2024 |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=May |first1=Travis |title=Houston Texans' elite pass rusher undrafted free agent is set to impress at NFL Rookie Minicamp |url=https://atozsports.com/houston/houston-texans-elite-pass-rusher-undrafted-free-agent-nfl-rookie-minicamp/ |website=AtoZ Sports |date=8 May 2024 |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref> He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Houston Texans Transactions (08-27-2024)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-08-27-2024|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=August 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Houston Texans Transactions (08-28-2024)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-08-28-2024|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=August 28, 2024}}</ref> He was released on September 17.<ref>{{cite web |title=Houston Texans Transactions (09-17-2024) |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-09-17-2024 |website=houstontexans.com |access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref>
===Minnesota Vikings=== On September 19, 2024, Tooley was signed to the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vikings Sign Linebacker Max Tooley to Practice Squad |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/max-tooley-linebacker-signed-practice-squad|author=Peters, Craig|website=Vikings.com|date=September 19, 2024}}</ref> He signed a reserve/future contract with Minnesota on January 16, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vikings Sign Dozen-Plus Players to Futures Contracts for 2025|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/2025-future-free-agent-signings|author=Peters, Craig|website=Vikings.com|date=January 16, 2025}}</ref>
On July 30, 2025, Tooley was waived by the Vikings.<ref>{{cite web|last=Peters|first=Craig|title=Vikings Sign Safety Gervarrius Owens|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/gervarrius-owens-safety-signed-2025|website=Vikings.com|date=July 30, 2025|access-date=July 30, 2025}}</ref> Tooley was signed by the Vikings again on August 13, but was waived again on August 19.<ref>{{cite web|first=Craig|last=Peters|title=Vikings Sign OLB Cam Gill & LB Max Tooley|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/cam-gill-max-tooley-signed-outside-linebacker|website=Vikings.com|date=August 13, 2025|access-date=August 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Craig |title=Vikings Sign RB Xazavian Valladay & OL Zack Bailey |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/xazavian-valladay-zack-bailey-signed-max-tooley-waived |website=vikings.com |access-date=20 August 2025}}</ref>
== Personal life == Tooley is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission for the church in London, England, United Kingdom.<ref name="2_LDS_RMs_drafted_2024">{{cite web |last1=Toone |first1=Trent |date=29 Apr 2024 |title=2 Latter-day Saint returned missionaries selected in NFL draft |website=thechurchnews.com |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2024/04/29/nfl-draft-sione-vaki-safety-devaughn-vele-receiver-utah-utes/ |access-date=12 Oct 2024 }}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://byucougars.com/sports/football/roster/season/2023/player/max-tooley BYU Cougars bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tooley, Max}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Utah Category:People from Bountiful, Utah Category:American football linebackers Category:BYU Cougars football players Category:Houston Texans players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Minnesota Vikings players