Ivy League Yale University has a ton of prestige across many avenues of life, but they've not exactly been a hotbed for NFL players over the years. Coming into 2025, only 25 players in NFL history from the Yale Bulldogs had been in the league for more than one season. Only one of the 36 Yale players who had been in the NFL at all had played wide receiver. That wideout is Mason Tipton of the New Orleans Saints.

Undrafted out of Yale in 2024, Tipton had made the New Orleans Saints roster after an outstanding rookie training camp. He'd end up seeing more action than expected as a rookie because injuries ravaged the New Orleans wideouts. Tipton wound up playing in 11 games in 2024, catching 14 passes for 99 yards. In 2025, Tipton wound again have to beat stacked odds.

Mason Tipton Year in Review

  • Position: Wide receiver
  • Age: 25
  • Height: 5-feet, 11 inches
  • Weight: 187 pounds
  • NFL experience: 2 years (with Saints)
  • 2025 season: 14 games

Tipton came out of training camp with a roster spot for the second straight year. However, he was buried on the receiver depth chart behind Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks, and new acquisition Devaughn Vele. Over the first eight games, Tipton played only 37 offensive snaps and had no catches on just 2 targets.

In early November, Shaheed was traded to the Seattle Seahawks and Cooks was released. This moved Tipton up the depth chart, as he averaged over 43 offensive snaps per outing over the last six games. In that span, he'd have 11 receptions on 17 targets for 76 yards. Tipton also flashed as a kickoff returner, averaging 31.5 yards per return with a long of 75 yards.

In his two years, Tipton has yet to score a touchdown on 29 offensive touches and 13 kick returns. New Orleans will likely look to bring in more weapons for young quarterback Tyler Shough this offseason. As a result, Yale product Mason Tipton may again have the odds stacked against him in 2026 with the Saints.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints 2025 Year in Review: Mason Tipton tried to carve out a role