Tevita Finau

Last updated

Tevita Finau
Personal information
Born: (1986-01-13) January 13, 1986 (age 38)
Hamilton, New Zealand
Career information
High school: Kahuku (HI)
College: University of Utah
Career history
As a player:

As a coach:

 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Stats at Pro Football Reference  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Tevita Tolu Finau (Born January 13, 1986) is a New Zealand-born former American Football Defensive Linemen and Current Football Coach. He played College Football at the University of Utah. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an Undrafted Free Agent in 2012.

Contents

He has been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, and Houston Texans.

Graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Utah.

Early years

Born in Hamilton, New Zealand, to Tolu Halaapiapi and Finau Takinima, he has lived in New Zealand, Tonga, and in Hawaii. Finau attended three high schools in Hawaii: Lahainaluna High School as a freshman and sophomore, Maui High School his junior year, and Kahuku High & Intermediate School as a senior. He was a 3-time 1st-team all-state honoree in basketball from 2002 to 2004. He helped Kahuku win the Hawaii State Football Championship in 2004. Married to Adrianne (Galeai) Finau and they've 5 children. [1]

College career

Finau played two seasons of junior college football for Phoenix College before originally committing to play football at West Virginia University. The highly-touted recruit never made it to Morgantown however, and Finau eventually ended up enrolling at the University of Utah, where he appeared in 21 games in his two-year career for the Utes and finished with 72 tackles, 6 1/2 sacks, 13 TFL's

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Finau was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad on November 14, 2012, after going undrafted and spending time in training camp with both the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles. Finau was released from the practice squad on November 27, 2012.

New York Jets

Finau was signed to the New York Jets practice squad on December 5, 2012. [2] He signed a future/reserve contract on December 31, 2013. [3] He was released on August 31, 2014. [4] He was signed to the team's practice squad a day later. [5]

Houston Texans

Finau was signed by the Houston Texans to a reserve futures contract on December 30, 2014. He was cut on September 6, 2015. [6]

Coaching career

University of Utah

Was a graduate assistant in 2021 and a defensive administrative assistant in 2022. Those teams won back-to-back PAC-12 titles and made 2 consecutive rose bowl appearances against Ohio State in 2021 and Penn State in 2022.

Utah State University

Hired as the Defensive Line coach in 2023. The Aggies had a 6–7 record and finished the year playing in the Idaho Potatoe Bowl against Georgia State.

Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship

2022 Spent the off-season with the 2022 Super Bowl Champions. Los Angeles Rams.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Kemoeatu</span> Tongan gridiron football player (born 1983)

Uikelotu Christopher Kemoeatu is an American former professional football player who was a guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes, and was selected by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He is the younger brother of former NFL nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maʻake Kemoeatu</span> Tongan gridiron football player (born 1979)

Ma'ake Tu'amelie Kemoeatu is a Tongan-American former professional American football player who played as a nose tackle. He was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football for the University of Utah Utes. Kemoeatu has also played for the Carolina Panthers and Washington Redskins. He is the older brother of former NFL offensive lineman Chris Kemoeatu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Ratliff</span> American football player (born 1985)

Brett Ratliff is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Butte College and Utah. He has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kahuku High & Intermediate School</span> Public, co-educational school in Kahuku, Hawaii, United States

Kahuku High & Intermediate School, located in Kahuku CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, on the island of Oahu, serves approximately 1,850 students in grades seven through twelve and is part of the Windward District on the island of Oahu. It is a part of the Hawaii Department of Education. The students of Kahuku are enrolled from the communities of Kaʻaʻawa, Hau'ula, La'ie, Kahuku, and Sunset Beach which span a twenty-six mile stretch along the North Shore.

Gabe Long is a former American football defensive tackle. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve McLendon</span> American football player (born 1986)

Stephen Craine McLendon is a former American football nose tackle. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Troy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sealver Siliga</span> American football player (born 1990)

Tupaimoefitpo "Sealver" Siliga is a former American football defensive tackle. He played college football at Utah.

Royce Pollard is a former American football wide receiver. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He played college football at Hawaiʻi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. Bryant</span> American gridiron football player (born 1989)

Darrell "D. J." Bryant is a former American football outside linebacker. He played college football at James Madison University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Davis (linebacker)</span> American gridiron football player (born 1991)

Troy "Diesel" Michael Davis is a former American football player. Davis played college football at UCF. He was signed by the New York Jets in 2013 as an undrafted free agent. Davis also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL while also having stints with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.

Jeffrey Bret "J. B." Shugarts is a former American football offensive tackle. He signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent on April 3, 2014. He played college football at Ohio State.

Michael Campbell is a former American gridiron football wide receiver. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at Temple University.

Samuel Callaghan Brenner is a former American football center. He was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Brenner played college football at Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Saleh</span> American football coach (born 1979)

Robert Saleh is an American professional football coach who is an offensive consultant for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He recently was the head coach of the New York Jets from 2021 to 2024. He has been assistant coach for the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Francisco 49ers. Saleh has appeared in two Super Bowls, one each with the Seahawks and 49ers, winning Super Bowl XLVIII with the former.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freddie Bishop</span> American gridiron football player (born 1990)

Freddie George Bishop III is a former gridiron football defensive lineman. He played college football at Western Michigan University. He first enrolled at Robichaud High School before transferring to Airport High School in Carleton, Michigan. He has also been a member of the New York Jets, Calgary Stampeders, Memphis Express, and Toronto Argonauts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Howsare</span> American gridiron football player (born 1992)

Julian Howsare is an American professional football defensive end for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Clarion and was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanzel Smart</span> American football player (born 1994)

Tanzel Etric Smart Jr. is an American professional football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Tulane, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kai Nacua</span> American football player (born 1995)

Kaimana Nacua Sr. is an American professional football safety for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at BYU.

Pita Taumoepenu is an American professional football linebacker for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Utah. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft.

Bradlee Joseph Ioane Anae is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Utah.

References

  1. ↑ "Tevita Finau". University of Utah. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  2. ↑ Jets Media Relations Department (December 5, 2012). "DT Finau Signed to Practice Squad". New York Jets. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  3. ↑ Jets Media Relations Department (December 31, 2013). "Jets Sign 8 to Reserve/Future Contracts". newyorkjets.com. New York Jets. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  4. ↑ Lange, Randy (August 31, 2014). "Jets Move 22, Get Down to 53-Man Active Roster". newyorkjets.com. New York Jets. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ Lange, Randy (September 1, 2014). "3 Arrive Via Waivers; 7 Added to Practice Squad". newyorkjets.com. New York Jets. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Houston Texans cut 18 players, including Louis Nix III". ESPN. September 6, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.