Stan Mataele
No. 94
Position:Nose tackle
Personal information
Born: (1963-06-24) June 24, 1963
Tonga
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:278 lb (126 kg)
Career information
High school:Kahuku (Kahuku, Hawaii, U.S)
College:Sacramento CC (1983–1984)
Arizona (1985–1986)
NFL Draft:1987 / Round: 8 / Pick: 197
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Stan Mataele (born June 24, 1963) is a Tongan former professional American football nose tackle who played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at Sacramento City College and Arizona and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the eighth round of the 1987 NFL Draft.

Early life and education

Mataele was born on June 24, 1963, in Tonga.[1] He and Lakei Heimuli were the first Tongan players in the NFL.[2] He grew up in Hawaii and enjoyed surfing, weightlifting, playing rugby football and playing piano.[3][4] He attended Kahuku High School but did not play sports there.[5]

When visiting a family member in Sacramento, California, Mataele decided he liked the city and opted to enroll at Sacramento City College.[6] At Sacramento City College, he was spotted one day while lifting weights by the American football coach, who asked him if he had ever played the sport before.[6] He wanted to try out the sport, so he lied and said that he did play. However, Mataele said that the first day in practice, the coach "immediately knew I hadn't."[6] He was still kept on the team, however; the Arizona Republic said that "The fact that Mataele can bench press 505 pounds might have entered into the decision."[6]

A defensive end, he was able to earn All-California junior college honors at Sacramento.[6] He also tried out for the track and field team and made it as a participant in the hammer throw; although he struggled at first, he became a top player for the school by the midway point of his first season, winning a state meet with a state community college record.[5][7] He later broke his own record and reached the Northern California hammer throw finals.[7] Following the 1984 football season, he committed to continue his career with the Arizona Wildcats.[8]

Mataele entered the 1985 season as a backup at nose tackle, later moved up to the starting role, and then shifted to defensive tackle.[3] He helped them place second in their conference in yards-per-game allowed and first in points-per-game allowed.[9] He also joined the Arizona track and field team, setting the school record for hammer throw.[6] As a senior, he was selected second-team All-West Coast, second-team All-Pac-10, and was invited to the Hula Bowl after leading the Pac-10 with 10 and 1/2 sacks.[10][11][12][13]

Professional career

Mataele was selected in the eighth round (197th overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[14] He signed his first contract on July 19, but was released on August 12.[15][16] When the National Football League Players Association went on strike, Mataele was signed as a replacement player by the Green Bay Packers to play nose tackle.[17] He appeared in two strike games, against the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles as a backup, before being released at the end of the strike.[18][19][20] He returned to the Packers in April 1988, but left the team in July 1988, ending his professional career.[20]

Personal life

Mataele has five children.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Stan Mataele Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  2. ↑ "List of all NFL Players Born in Tonga". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Magruder, Jack (September 19, 1985). "Pro surfing's loss is UA football's gain". Arizona Daily Star. p. 9, 12. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ↑ Wilbon, Michael (September 12, 1986). "Arizona's Mataele Goes From Hang 10 to Front 3". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Golding, Tod (May 12, 1984). "Surfer makes waves in hammer circle". The Sacramento Bee. p. 58. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shappell, Lee (October 15, 1986). "Cat-quick study". Arizona Republic. p. 22. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. 1 2 Golding, Tod (May 13, 1984). "Mataele heaves way into track finals". The Sacramento Bee. p. 2. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ↑ "Two JC players sign UA football letters". Arizona Daily Star. December 22, 1984. p. 36. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. ↑ Crumpacker, John (August 29, 1986). "Things looking rosey as Arizona improves". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 97. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ↑ Petruska, Dave (December 26, 1986). "Cornerback's injury gives Cephers shot". Tucson Citizen. p. 37. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. ↑ "Miller, Preacher all-stars". Statesman Journal. November 25, 1986. p. 28. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ↑ Blauvelt, Harry (December 23, 1986). "Aloha Bowl Brings Wildcat from Laie Home". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. 17, 20. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. ↑ Lewis, Ferd (January 10, 1987). "41st Hula Bowl Today". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. 19. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. ↑ "1987 NFL Draft". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Bucs sign final draft picks; rookies start practice today". Sun Sentinel. July 20, 1987. p. 20. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. ↑ "Bucs release four rookies". Tampa Bay Times. August 12, 1987. p. 37. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  17. ↑ "Sketches". Green Bay Press-Gazette. September 29, 1987. p. 26. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  18. ↑ "Stan Mataele Career Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Stan Mataele Stats". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  20. 1 2 "Stan Mataele NFL Transactions". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Brooke Mataele". University of Northwestern Ohio. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
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