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