Manti Te'o

At 33 years old, Manti Te'o has this physical status:

Manti Malietau Louis Te?o (born January 26, 1991) is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. (NFL)

He played college football at Notre Dame, where he was named as a consensus All-American and won eight national awards.

In the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Te'o was drafted by the San Diego Chargers.

Personal life

Te'o was born in Laie, Hawaii, on January 26, 1991, of Samoan descent. He is the son of Brian and Ottilia Te'o and has five children: BrieAnne, Tiare, Eden, and Maya, as well as brother Manasseh.

Te'o had a 3.5 grade-point average in high school and did volunteer with the Shriners Hospital, Head Start preschool program, Hawai's Food Bank, and Special Olympics. In November 2008, Te'o became an Eagle Scout. Te'o is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Te'o proposed to Jovi Nicole Engbino, his personal trainer, and beauty specialist in February 2020. On August 29, 2020, the couple married in San Diego, California. Hiro Te'o Te'o, Te'o's daughter, was born on August 12, 2021.

Both his grandmother and his mother died on September 11, 2012. Te'o told several media outlets that he and his grandmother died on September 11, 2012. Te'o said his mother, Stanford University student Lennay Kekua, was injured in a car crash and discovered she had leukemia during her medicalization. Te'o did not miss any football games for Notre Dame, saying that even if something happened to her, he told Kekua he would play. Several sports media outlets have written about these tragedies during Te'o's brisk 2012 season and his ascension as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

After receiving an anonymous email tip in January 2013, journalists Timothy Burke and Jack Dickey of Deadspin launched an investigation into Kekua's identity. They published an article on January 16 charging that Kekua did not exist, pointing to Ronaya "Naya" Tuiasopo, a transgender woman who came out as male at the time, as a participant in a bogus of a Te'o mate. Tuiasopo has been described as a family friend or acquaintance of Te'o. Diane O'Meara, a former high school classmate of Tuiasopo, had pictures of Kekua that had been released in the media, was a model for the film "Kapia."

Notre Dame released a statement on the same day as the Deadspin article was published. "Manti had been the perpetrator of what seemed to be a prank in which someone using the fictitious name Lennay Kekua allegedly ingratiated herself with Manti and then conspired with others to lead him to believe she had tragically died of leukemia." In a press conference, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick announced that the university had hired private investigators to find the perpetrator of the prank, but that Te'o's link to Kekua was "purely an online connection." This contradicted previous Te'o and his family's reports that the two couples first met after a football match. In Hawaii, Swarbrick visited Te'o. After getting a phone call from the woman who appeared to be Kekua on December 6, Swarbrick said Te'o told Notre Dame of the hoax on December 26, 2012, who said she was still alive. In the days following the phone call, Te'o spoke about Kekua's death in at least four separate interviews.

Te'o confessed to a January 18, 2013 interview with sports reporter Jeremy Schaap, despite growing suspicions that he was complicit in the hoax. Te'o explained that he had lied to his father and others about seeing her in person because he was afraid of being seen as "crazy" for having a serious relationship with a woman he had never seen in person. Te'o said he was furious and confused by the call on December 6 and had to continue to communicate with Kekua because the situation was unclear to him. Tuiasopo said to be Lennay Kekua's cousin, and that the two of them had communicated online over the past few years and met together in person at the 2012 Notre Dame/USC game. In a telephone conversation on January 16, Te'o said Tuiasopo admitted responsibility for the prank.

Te'o performed three voicemails left by Kekua on Katie Couric in a January 24, 2013 interview on Katie Couric, "sounds like a child." In an interview with Dr. Phil on January 31 and February 1, Tuiasopo confessed to the prank and admitted to falling in love with Te'o and using the Kekua name. Tuiasopo also recreated the female voice behind a privacy screen. The New York Times announced that Kekua's voice belonged to Tuiasopo's cousin. Despite the fact that Kekua did not exist, former NFL player Reagan Maui'a said he saw someone twice, claiming to be Kekua, and that they had been welcomed by Tuiasopo, whom he suspected to be Kekua.

Te'o's life was the subject of a two-part Netflix film, Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist, which was published in August 2022.

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High school career

Te'o attended Punahou School, a private coed academy in Honolulu, where he had also attended middle school. Te'o began his varsity career in 2006 with a stellar effort that resulted in his selection to the second-team all-state roster as a sophomore.

Te'o was named both the state defensive player of the year by the Honolulu Advertiser and the year's best Gatorade state player of the year as a junior in 2007. While totaling 90 tackles and five sacks on offense and 400 rushing yards and ten touchdowns as a running back, he received first-team all-state honors. In the process, Te'o attracted a lot of interest from colleges and recruiters.

Te'o made his senior year as one of the nation's top ten recruiting lists before the season, with several on the state and national top ten recruiting lists. Over 30 college programs have been accepted by him. During his senior year, Te'o helped Punahou win its first-ever state championship in football. He has 129 tackles, including 11 sacks, sparked three fumbles, tipped four passes, and totaled 19 quarterback hurries. Te'o rushed for 176 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and four touchdowns, two of which were touchdowns, on offense at running back, with four touchdowns and two others. He had three interceptions, with one of them returning one 49 yards for a touchdown. He also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.

For the second straight season, he received his second straight Gatorade state player of the year award for his efforts during the season. Te'o was such a force that The Honolulu Advertiser considered just naming him as the year's greatest state player. He is regarded as one of the most highly recruited players in the state of Hawaii, both in football and for any other sport.

Te'o earned the inaugural Butkus Award at the high school level in 2008, which was given to the nation's best prep linebacker. He was also named the 2008 Sporting News High School Athlete of the Year, becoming the first individual from Hawaii and the first Polynesian descentee to be named as the first winner of the award. Te'o has been named National Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-American by USA Today. He is the third high school student from Hawaii to be selected to the USA Today All-American team, after Pat Kesi in 1990 and Jason Ching in 1995 (Ching, too, is a Punahou and Notre Dame alumnus). Te'o was also selected to the 2009 Parade All-American team. The Honolulu Advertiser announced Te'o on January 10, 2010, naming him the Hawaii State Defensive Player of the Decade (2000–2009).

Te'o was nationally regarded as one of the most highly awaited students of the 2009 class. Rivals.com named him as a five-star recruiter, the first from Hawaii after Jonathan Mapu in 2002, and ranked second among top recruiters only behind Vontaze Burfict. Te'o was also listed as a five-star recruiter and ranked No. 1 in the United States. Scout.com finds 1 strongside linebacker in his class.

Te'o pledged to the University of Notre Dame on National Signing Day of 2009. He favoured the Fighting Irish, who was then coached by Charlie Weis over Brigham Young and Southern California. Te'o was the first USA Today Defensive Player of the Year to commit to the Irish since Kory Minor in 1995.

College career

Te'o was enrolled in the University of Notre Dame, where he competed for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team from 2009 to 2012.

On September 5, 2009, Te'o appeared in his first college game at the start of the second defensive series. On his third snap, Te'o tackled Wolf Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick for an 11-yard gain on third and 15 for his first collegiate tackle. Te'o made his first collegiate appearance in Ireland's game against Purdue despite playing but not starting his first three games. He appeared in all 12 games of his freshman season and finished with 63 tackles, the third-most tackles ever by a Notre Dame freshman behind Bob Golic (82 in 1975) and Ross Browner (68 in 1973). Te'o also had 5.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

Te'o was named a Freshman All-American by College Football News on December 8, 2009. Rivals.com also named him as a second-team Freshman All-American.

Under defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, Te'o went from outside to inside linebacker in 2010 as Notre Dame switched to a 3–4 defensive scheme. Te'o was nominated to the 2010 Lombardi Award & Nagurski Award watch lists on April 30, 2010.

With 133 tackles, Te'o led the Fighting Irish in tackles, and second in tackles for loss with 9.5. Te'o finished with 21 total tackles against Stanford on September 25, which was his 21st appearance against Stanford. This figure is Te'o's highest tackle in a game played by an individual for Notre Dame since 2006.

Te'o was selected one of 16 semifinalists for both the Butkus Award (Best Collegiate Linebacker) and the Bednarik Award for top College defensive player. CNNSI also named him as a Second-team All-American.

With 128, Te'o led the Fighting Irish in tackles for the second straight season in 2011. With 13.5 tackles for loss and second in sacks with 5.0, he also led the team in tackles for loss with 13.5.

Te'o was a finalist for the Butkus Award and the Lott Trophy, and he was named as the 2011 FBS Independent Defensive Player of the Year.

The Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, Rivals.com, Phil Steele, and CNNSI named Te'o as a second-team All-American by the Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, Rivals.com, Phil Steele, and CNNSI. He was also selected to the Capital One Academic All-American second team.

Te'o announced on December 11, 2011 that he would return to Notre Dame for his senior season. Te'o was one of the ten top players in Notre Dame history to reach more than 300 career tackles and began the season eighth on the Fighting Irish's career tackles list. Te'o was the best tackler and leader in interceptions for a 12–0 Notre Dame team, which had the nation's second-best scoring defense (10.33 points per game). In the regular season, he had 103 tackles (52 solo, 51 assisted, 8.58 per game), including 5.5 tackles for injury and 1.5 sacks (one for 13 yards of Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones). In interceptions, Te'o led the team and also all FBS linebackers. Te'o's 7 interceptions in the 2012 season were the most by any FBS linebacker since 2001. He ranked third in the country at 0.58 interceptions per game, but only Fresno State safety Phillip Thomas had more interceptions this season, with eight interceptions in a row. Against Michigan, Te'o's season-high per game was two interceptions for 28 yards.

Notre Dame finished second in scoring defense (10.33 points per game) and eighth in four other defensive categories in 2012: fifth in total defense (287.25 yards per game) and 19th in sacks (2.75 per game). Te'o's 8.58 tackles per game is three and a half more per game than the squad's next-most prolific tackler, Zeke Motta (5.09 per game).

Te'o is one of college football's most versatile defensive players. He was named in the 2012 Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year Lott Trophy, the Maxwell Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Butkus Award, the Lombardi Award, and the Walter Camp Award. In addition, the National Football Foundation named him a national scholar-athlete. Te'o finished second in the voting to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, one of three finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

Te'o had 10 tackles in a 42-14 loss to a 12–1 Alabama team, winning its third national championship in four years. Alabama took over from the getgoal and led 14–0 after the first quarter before extending its lead to a 28-0 score by halftime. Te'o had 7 assists and 3 solo tackles, ranking him as the best in the world.

In his four-year tenure at Notre Dame, Te'o has 437 total tackles. He ranked third in school history behind Bob Crable (521, 1978–81), and Bob Golic (479, 1975–78). He appeared in 47 games in a row, beginning with his fourth game of his freshman season, marking the longest streak in the nation. In three seasons, he joins Crable as the second player in Notre Dame history to reach 100+ tackles in three straight seasons.

The Notre Dame Official Athletic Site has the following statistics.

Professional career

Despite being projected as a late first-round pick for the 2012 NFL Draft as early as mid-season of 2011, Te'o decided to return to Notre Dame after the 2011 season. Te'o was also listed as a late first-rounder in preseason mock drafts from May 2012 to the 2013 NFL Draft. He had advanced to the mid-first round by mid-season. Since Bob Crable in 1982, Notre Dame has not seen one of their linebackers selected in the first round. Te'o joined agent Tom Condon at the end of the 2012 college football season. In preparation for the NFL Draft, he was training at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Te'o appeared at the NFL Combine under intense scrutiny from NFL teams. His disappointing time of 4.82 in the 40-yard dash was disappointing, but he promised to "do a lot more" at his Notre Dame pro day. After the mashup, Sports Illustrated forecast Te'o to miss out on the first round. According to ESPN's Todd McShay, Te'o ran faster on Notre Dame Pro Day on March 26, between 4.75 and 4.71).

He was selected in the second round, 38th overall by the San Diego Chargers, as the second inside linebacker in the draft after Alec Ogletree. "It's a dream come true." On draft day, my parents can come and watch, and I can go home because it's San Diego." Before Jaylon Smith was selected in the 2016 NFL Draft, he was the highest-scoring Notre Dame linebacker since Demetrius DuBose in 1993.

Te'o began working with the Chargers on May 9, 2013. The agreement contained a $2,141,768 signing bonus as well as more than $3.1 million in guaranteed funds. He was the second linebacker of Polynesian descent to play for the Chargers after Junior Seau.

Te'o suffered his right foot in the Chargers' preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks on August 8, causing him to miss the remainder of preseason and the Houston Texans' regular season opener. In a week 4 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Te'o made his NFL debut. As the Chargers defeated, Te'o finished the game with three tackles.

In 13 games, Te'o finished the season with 61 tackles and 4 passes defended.

Te'o seemed to be improving from 2013; however, Te'o sustained a fractured foot on September 23, 2014; He made his Oakland teammates' return in the middle of the season. Te'o intercepted Tom Brady in the red zone against the New England Patriots, while covering Rob Gronkowski for his first NFL interception. Te'o was fired by sacking Colin Kaepernick, the first player Te'o tackled in his professional career—coincidentally, on a 4th down play a few weeks later. Manti finished the season with 61 tackles, 1 sack, 1 intercept, and 3 pass deflections.

Te'o had 63 tackles, one intercept, and one that made fumble in 2015. Due to an ankle injury, he missed four games in mid-season.

Te'o was named one of the Chargers' team captains for the 2016 season on September 5, 2016. On September 28, 2016, he was put on injured reserve with a torn Achilles.

Te'o agreed to a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints on March 21, 2017. During the 2017 season, he was the Saints' most offensive tackler. He was a fit inactive for only five games of the 2018 season and did not re-sign when his deal came to an end.

Te'o did not play for the majority of the 2019 season, so New Orleans re-signed him on December 3, 2019.

Te'o was assigned to the Chicago Bears' practice squad on October 20, 2020. He was drafted on the COVID-19 list by the team on December 7, 2020, and he was recalled to the practice squad on December 19. He was called to the active roster on January 9, 2021, following the team's wild card playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints, and then reverted to the practice squad after the game. After the season ended on January 18, 2021, his practice squad membership with the team came to an end.

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