Low-profile connector assembly and methods

An electrical connector assembly having shielded cage assembly with a plurality of ports for receiving modules. In one embodiment, the modules comprise SFP (small form-factor pluggable) modules, and the electrical connector assembly is adapted for low-profile applications, thereby optimizing the amount of area and volume occupied by the SFP assembly. In one variant, the SFP modules are pluggable into individual ports, whereby two modules are interconnected to a single header connector interconnected to a motherboard. Methods of manufacturing the connector assembly are also disclosed.