Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots in 2003, Mayer played in 9 games that season, compiling 15 tackles, including one in Super Bowl XXXVIII.[1] That one Super Bowl tackle remarkably was of Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ricky Proehl, who attended the same Hillsborough High School as Mayer. He would appear in only 3 games in 2004, and in February 2005 he signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons who then allocated him to NFL Europe. Mayer excelled as a member of the Hamburg Sea Devils, matching the NFL Europe record for interceptions in a game (3),[2] setting team records for interceptions in a season (5) and in a game (3)[3] and earning All-NFL Europe honors. He would return to play for Hamburg during the 2006 season, this time allocated by the Cleveland Browns.[4]
^"LIONS SAFETY MAYER INJURED, WILL MISS SEASON". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 15, 2000. Retrieved March 30, 2008. Safety Shawn Mayer, who had figured heavily in Penn State's plans this year, will miss the football season because of a knee injury suffered in practice. ... The 6-foot, 197-pounder from Hillsborough, N.J., played in every game last season.