|
Congressman Faleomavaega today announced his congratulations to 23 NFL players who are of Samoan ancestry who made the final cuts in this year’s NFL football season.
“This is remarkable given our small population in the United States. With a population of 65,000 living in American Samoa and some 130,000 living in Hawaii and in the continental United States, this means that for every 8,000 Samoans living in the U.S. and in American Samoa, our people produce one NFL player,” Faleomavaega said.
“It should also be noted that six of the NFL players were high school graduates from American Samoa”.
“I might also add that among our other fellow Polynesian NFL players who made the cuts were seven Hawaiians and four Tongans. Five of the NFL players are also graduates of Kahuku High School from Hawaii,” the Congressman added.
The names of the NFL players and the teams they play for are as follows:
|
NFC |
|
NAME |
TEAM |
ANCESTRY |
|
Gabe Reid |
Chicago Bears |
Samoan (AS) |
|
Reno Mahe |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Tongan |
|
Isaac Sopoaga |
San Francisco 49’ers |
Samoan (AS) |
|
Itula Mili |
Seattle Seahawks |
Samoan (Kahuku) |
|
Lofa Tatupu |
Seattle Seahawks |
Samoan |
|
Wayne Hunter |
Seattle Seahawks |
Samoan |
|
Brandon Manumaleuna |
St. Louis Rams |
Samoan |
|
Blaine Saipaia |
St. Louis Rams |
Samoan |
|
Pisa Tinoisamoa |
St. Louis Rams |
Samoan |
|
Joe Salave’a |
Washington Redskins |
Samoan (AS) |
|
Mike Sellers |
Washington Redskins |
Samoan |
|
|
|
|
|
AFC |
|
Maake Kemoeatu |
Baltimore Ravens |
Tongan (Kahuku) |
|
Edwin Mulitalo |
Baltimore Ravens |
Samoan |
|
Lauvale Sape |
Buffalo Bills |
Samoan |
|
Jonathan Fanene |
Cinncinnati Bengals |
Samoan (AS) |
|
Tony Banks |
Houston Texans |
Samoan |
|
Junior Ioane |
Houston Texans |
Samoan |
|
Kailee Wong |
Houston Texans |
Hawaiian |
|
Makoa Freitas |
Indianapolis Colts |
Hawaiian |
|
Vince Manuwai |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
Hawaiian/Samoan |
|
Chris Naeole |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
Hawaiian (Kahuku) |
|
Chad Owens |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
Hawaiian |
|
Junior Siavii |
Kansas City Chiefs |
Samoan (AS) |
|
Junior Seau |
Miami Dolphins |
Samoan |
|
Sione Pouha |
New York Jets |
Tongan |
|
Kevin Mawae |
New York Jets |
Hawaiian |
|
Marques Tuiasosopo |
Oakland Raiders |
Samoan |
|
Kimo Von Oelhoffen |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Hawaiian |
|
Chris Kemoeatu |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Tongan (Kahuku) |
|
Troy Polamalu |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Samoan |
|
Shaun Nua |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Samoan (AS) |
|
Zach Tuiasosopo |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Samoan |
|
Toniu Fonoti |
San Diego Chargers |
Samoan (Kahuku) |
|
Travis Laboy |
Tennessee Titans |
Hawaiian |
“Again, I congratulate this season’s NFL players and I wish them the very best,” the Congressman concluded. |
![[United States Congress]](congress.gif)
