- May 21, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
CINCINNATI -- Before every kickoff, Bengals defensive end Boye Mafe closes his eyes and speaks to his mother, Bola, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2018. He tells her he knows she's watching, promises to put on a show, and finishes with "I love you" in American Sign Language.
Mafe repeats the gesture after each sack.
The ASL tradition began in Mafe's family when his older sister, Tayo, chose it as her high school language requirement. All six siblings followed. They still sign during games -- once exchanging signals about an injury when Mafe played at Minnesota.
Bola Mafe ran a seamstress shop on 1110 Lowery Avenue in North Minneapolis, serving as a cultural gathering place. She volunteered at a battered women's shelter and frequently extended credit to customers who couldn't pay.
Mafe, a second-round pick by Seattle in 2022, joined Cincinnati this offseason after the departures of Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai. Through five games, he is playing a career-high 74% of defensive snaps and shares the team lead with three sacks.
"I try not to let circumstances dictate who I am," Mafe told ESPN.
Mickey's Angle: Mafe's fresh start in Cincinnati is paying off on the stat sheet, and his motor makes him a player to watch as the Bengals rebuild their pass rush.
Source: ESPN - written by Mickey the Mouth from the original report.