NFL Players Born in Tonga

NFL Players Born in Tonga

Folau, Spencer
Heimuli, Lakei
Kaufusi, Steve
Malamala, Siupeli
Maumau, Vili
Sikahema, Vai
Tuipulotu, Peter

Spencer Sione Folau (born April 5, 1973 in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga) was an American football offensive lineman in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens 1997-2000, Miami Dolphins 2001, New Orleans Saints 2002-2004, and Washington Redskins 2005. He was a member of the 2000 Ravens team that won Super Bowl XXXV.

Lakei Heimuli was born on June 24, 1965 on the island of Vavaʻu in Tonga. He is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played one season with the Chicago Bears (1987).


Sitiveni P. Kaufusi (born October 17, 1963 in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga) is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1989-1990.

He also played college football at Brigham Young University and attended junior college at Dixie State.

Currently he is the defensive line coach at Brigham Young University. He is also in charge of recruiting relations with Polynesian players. Kaufusi is one of four Tongans who currently coach in Division I Football. The others are Kalani Sitake at Utah, Viliami Tuivai at Boise State, and Ilaisa Tuiaki Utah State Aggies. Will Kofe of Sacramento State, Alfred Pupunu of Southern Utah, and Sitiveni Tuivai of Southern Utah coach in Division I-AA now known as Division I-FCS.

Steve's son Bronson, a sophomore defensive lineman/tight end at Timpview High School in Provo, Utah verbally committed to attend BYU in 2010.

Siupeli Malamala (born January 15, 1969) is a former professional American football offensive lineman. He played offensive tackle and offensive guard in the NFL for the New York Jets from 1992–1999. He played in 62 games throughout his professional career.
Viliami Maumau (born April 3, 1975) is a Tongan-born player of American football. Born on Niuafo'ou, Tonga, he played as a defensive tackle for the University of Colorado and was a 3rd Team All Big 12 selection as a junior where he was a teammate of Chris Naeole. Maumau attended St. Louis School in Honolulu and was a teammate of Olin Kreutz and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala. He also played one year of NFL football for the Carolina Panthers in 1999.

Vai S. Sikahema (born August 29, 1962 in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga) is a Tongan former American football player. The first Tongan ever to play in the National Football League (NFL), he played running back and kickoff returner in the league for eight seasons, from 1986 to 1993. He played college football for the Brigham Young University Cougars, and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals) in the tenth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He also played for the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles before retiring after the 1993 season. Since retiring he has served as Sports Director for WCAU, the NBC owned-and-operated station in Philadelphia, where he has been since 1994.

Sikahema is an older cousin of fellow Tongan NFL player Deuce Lutui.[1]

Peter Tuipulotu (born on February 20, 1969 in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga) was a Canadian and American football player. He played as a running back at Brigham Young University from 1988 to 1991. He played one season for the San Diego Chargers in 1992, and two for the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League, from 1994 to 1995. With the Stallions, he won the 83rd Grey Cup.