Seau, "Junior" (Tiaina Jr.)
Football
b. Jan. 19, 1969, American Samoa
One of several Samoans who have become football stars since the 1980s, Seau is a fast, agile, 6-foot-3, 250-pounder who was an All-American linebacker at the University of Southern California in 1989.
He was chosen by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 1990 NFL draft and immediately became a starting inside linebacker. In 1992, his third season, Seau was named the AFC's Defensive Most Valuable Player by United Press International.
In 13 seasons with the Chargers, Seau was selected for the Pro Bowl 11 times. He joined the Miami Dolphins as a free agent in 2003. He started 15 games that season. In 2004, though, he missed the last eight games because of a torn pectoral muscle, and an ankle injury limited him to seven games, five of them starts, in 2005. The Dolphins released him before their first mini-camp in 2006.
Through the 2005 season, Seau had intercepted 15 passes, returning them for 210 yards, and had recorded 52 quarterback sacks. He had recovered 17 fumbles, one for a touchdown.