Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Date of birth May 9, 1956 Role American football player | Name Frank Manumaleuga Weight: 245 lb (111 kg) Positions Linebacker | |
High school: Los Angeles (CA) Phineas Banning NFL draft: 1979 / Round: 4 / Pick: 85 College San Jose State Spartans football Place of birth Laie, Honolulu County, Hawaii, Hawaii, United States | ||
Toto'a Frank Manumaleuga (born May 9, 1956) is a former American football linebacker who played three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He first enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles before transferring to De Anza College and lastly San Jose State University. Manumaleuga attended Phineas Banning High School in Los Angeles, California. He was also a member of the Oakland Invaders and Portland Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL). He is distinguished as being the first Samoan to play in the National Football League.
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Early years
Manumaleuga participated in high school football, basketball, baseball and track at Phineas Banning High School.
College career
Manumaleuga suffered a spine and neck injury during his first and only game for the UCLA Bruins as a freshman in 1974 in Knoxville during a 17-17 tie with the Tennessee Volunteers. However, he earned Chevrolet Player of the Game honors after making 25 tackles during the game. He also played one year of basketball for the Bruins. However, the UCLA medical staff would not clear him to resume football activities.
Manumaleuga then played two years of college football at De Anza College and averaged fifteen yards per carry as a fullback. He transferred to play for the San Jose State Spartans from 1977 to 1978. He was inducted into the San Jose State University Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Manumaleuga was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL with the 85th pick in the 1979 NFL Draft. He played in 35 games, starting 29, for the Chiefs from 1979 to 1981. He played in 36 games, all starts, for the USFL's Oakland Invaders from 1983 to 1984. Manumaleuga played for the Portland Breakers of the USFL during the 1985 season.
Personal life
Manumaleuga's son Brandon Manumaleuna also played in the NFL. Frank's nephew Eathyn Manumaleuna spent time during the 2014 off-season with the New York Giants and New England Patriots.