Are there any Samoan players in the NFL?

Are there any Samoan players in the NFL?

There are 30 players from American Samoa in the NFL and more than 200 play Division I NCAA Football. A Samoan male is 56 times more likely to play in the NFL than an American non-Samoan.

Why do so many Samoans play youth football?

One reason could be social class, which has become a key indicator of who plays youth football. Samoans lag behind most groups in terms of health, income and education. In Samoan communities, sports are seen as a pathway to a college education and, if players are lucky or talented enough, NFL riches.

How many NFL players are of Polynesian descent?

More than 70 players in the NFL are of Polynesian descent. There are 30 players from American Samoa in the NFL and more than 200 play Division I NCAA Football. A Samoan male is 56 times more likely to play in the NFL than an American non-Samoan.

Who was the first Samoan Heisman Trophy winner?

With training camp in full swing, quarterback Marcus Mariota, the first Samoan Heisman Trophy winner, will be the signal caller for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a pre-season favorite to become the second Samoan Heisman winner, is entering his junior year.

Who was the first Samoan football head coach?

As the sugar industry declined along the northern coast, football gave generations of boys a way to find their place in the world. A few years after Silva retired, native son Famika Anae returned and became the first Samoan head coach at any level of the game.

How did Famika Lolotai contribute to the Samoan culture?

Famika was the son of a Mormon from Western Samoa who had answered the call to build the temple. Both Famika and his half-brother—that Samoan NFL pioneer Al Lolotai—were the products of La`ie’s tough blend of religion, fa`a Samoa culture, and football discipline.