Manti Teʻo

Manti Malietau Louis Teʻo ( MAN-ty TE'-oh; born January 26, 1991) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, earning unanimous All-American honors and receiving multiple national awards. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft and played in the NFL until 2021. Since 2024, Teʻo has worked as an on-air commentator and analyst for NFL Network.

In 2012, Teʻo became the victim of a catfishing ruse when Ronaiah Tuiasosopo created a fake online persona named Lennay Kekua with whom Teʻo became romantically involved.

Early life

Teʻo played for Punahou School, a private co-ed institution in Honolulu, where he had also attended middle school. Teʻo began his varsity career in 2006 with stellar play that won him selection to the second-team all-state roster as a sophomore. As a junior in 2007, Teʻo was named the state defensive player of the year by the Honolulu Advertiser and the Gatorade state player of the year. He received first-team all-state honors while totaling 90 tackles and five sacks on defense and 400 rushing yards and ten touchdowns as a running back. Teʻo drew considerable attention from colleges and recruiters in the process.

Teʻo came into his senior year as one of the most celebrated players and recruits both on the state and national levels, landing on a number of national top ten recruiting lists before the start of the season. He received offers from over 30 college programs. During his senior year, Teʻo helped lead Punahou to its first-ever state championship in football during the 2008 season. He amassed 129 tackles, including 11 sacks, forced three fumbles, tipped four passes and totaled 19 quarterback hurries. On offense at running back, Teʻo rushed for 176 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and four touchdowns and had three receptions, two for touchdowns. He also had three touchdowns, returning one 49 yards for a touchdown. He also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.

Teʻo received his second straight Gatorade state player of the year award for his play during the season and was named first-team all-state and the state defensive player of the year for the second straight season. Teʻo was such a force that The Honolulu Advertiser considered just naming him the overall state player of the year. He is regarded as one of the most highly recruited athletes, both in football and for any sport, in the history of the state of Hawaii.

In 2008, Teʻo won the inaugural Butkus Award at the high school level, awarded to the best prep linebacker in the United States. He was also named the 2008 Sporting News High School Athlete of the Year, becoming the first person from the state of Hawaii and the first athlete of Polynesian descent to receive the award. USA Today named Teʻo the national Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-American. He is only the third high school player from Hawaii to be named 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). Teʻo was also named to the 2009 Parade All-American team as well. On January 10, 2010, Teʻo was named the Hawaii State Defensive Player of the Decade (2000–2009) by the Honolulu Advertiser.

College recruitment and rankings

Teʻo was nationally regarded as one of the elite prospects of the class of 2009. Major recruiting service Rivals.com listed him as a five-star recruit—the first from Hawaii since Jonathan Mapu in 2002—and ranked him second among inside linebackers only behind Vontaze Burfict. Also listed as five-star recruit, Teʻo was ranked as the No. 1 strongside linebacker in his class by Scout.com.

On National Signing Day of 2009, Teʻo committed to the University of Notre Dame. He chose the Fighting Irish, then coached by Charlie Weis, over Brigham Young and Southern California. Teʻo was the first USA Today Defensive Player of the Year to commit to the Irish since Kory Minor in 1995.

College career

Teʻo enrolled in the University of Notre Dame, where he played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team from 2009 to 2012.

Freshman season

Teʻo entered his first college game at the start of the second defensive series early in the second quarter versus Nevada on September 5, 2009. On his third snap Teʻo tackled Wolf Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick after an 11-yard gain on third and 15 for his first collegiate tackle. After playing, but not starting, his first three games, Teʻo made his first collegiate start in the Irish's game versus Purdue. He played in all 12 games of his freshman season and finished the season 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). Teʻo also recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack. On December 8, 2009, Teʻo was named a Freshman All-American by College Football News. He was also named a second-team Freshman All-American by Rivals.com.

Sophomore season

Teʻo moved from outside to inside linebacker in 2010 as Notre Dame switched to a 3–4 defensive scheme under defensive coordinator Bob Diaco. On April 30, 2010, Teʻo was named to the 2010 Lombardi Award & Nagurski Award watch lists. Teʻo led the Fighting Irish in tackles with 133, and was second in tackles for loss with 9.5. Against Stanford on September 25, Teʻo finished with 21 total tackles. This total represents a career-high for Teʻo and is also the most tackles in a game by an individual for Notre Dame since 2006. Teʻo was named one of 16 semifinalists for both the Butkus Award (Best Collegiate Linebacker) and the Bednarik Award for top College defensive player. He was also named a Second-team All-American by CNNSI.

Junior season

Teʻo led the Fighting Irish in tackles for the second straight season in 2011 with 128. He also led the team in tackles for loss with 13.5 and finished second in sacks with 5.0. Teʻo was a finalist for the Butkus Award and the Lott Trophy and was selected as the 2011 FBS Independent Defensive Player of the Year. Teʻo was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, Rivals.com, Phil Steele and CNNSI. He was also named to the Capital One Academic All-American second-team.

Senior season

Teʻo announced on December 11, 2011, that he would return to Notre Dame for his senior season. Teʻo entered his final season as one of 10 players in Notre Dame history to record over 300 career tackles and started the season eighth on the career tackles list for the Fighting Irish. During the season, Teʻo was the leading tackler and leader in interceptions for a 12–0 Notre Dame team which had the second-ranked scoring defense (10.33 points per game) in the country. He had 103 tackles in the regular season (52 solo, 51 assisted, 8.58 per game), including 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks (one for 13 yards of Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones.) Teʻo also led the team, as well as all FBS linebackers, in interceptions. Teʻo's 7 interceptions during the 2012 season are the most by any FBS linebacker since 2001. He ranked third in the nation at 0.58 interceptions per game, and overall only Fresno State safety Phillip Thomas had more, with 8 interceptions that season. Teʻo's season-high per game was 2 interceptions for 28 yards against Michigan.

In the 2012 season, Notre Dame ranked second in the nation in scoring defense (10.33 points per game) and ranked in the top 19 nationally in four other defensive categories: fifth in rushing defense (92.42 yards per game), sixth in total defense (287.25 yards per game), 12th in pass efficiency defense (105.58) and 19th in sacks (2.75 per game). Teʻo'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). Teʻo is one of the most decorated defensive players in college football history. He won the 2012 Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year Lott Trophy, as well as the Maxwell Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Butkus Award, the Lombardi Award, and the Walter Camp Award. In addition, he was named a national scholar-athlete by the National Football Foundation. One of three finalists for the Heisman Trophy, Teʻo eventually finished second in the voting to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. In the BCS National Championship Game, Teʻo recorded 10 tackles in a 42–14 loss to a 12–1 Alabama team which won its third national championship in four years. Alabama took control from the start and led 14–0 after the first quarter and extended its lead to a 28–0 score by halftime. Teʻo finished with 7 assists and 3 solo tackles.

College statistics

Teʻo has 437 total tackles in his four-year career at Notre Dame. He ranks third all-time in school history behind Bob Crable (521, 1978–81) and Bob Golic (479, 1975–78). He started in 47 consecutive games, beginning with the fourth game of his freshman season, at that point the longest streak of any linebacker in the country. He joined Crable as the second player in Notre Dame history to record 100+ tackles in three consecutive seasons.

All statistics from Notre Dame Official Athletic Site.