American football player (born 1963)
American football player
Stan Mataele Position:
Nose tackle Born: (1963-06-24 ) June 24, 1963 (age 60)
Tonga Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight: 278 lb (126 kg) High school:
Kahuku (
Kahuku, Hawaii , U.S) College:
Sacramento CC (1983–1984)
Arizona (1985–1986) NFL draft:
1987 / Round: 8 / Pick: 197
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Player stats at
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
^
"Stan Mataele Stats" .
Pro-Football-Reference.com .
Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2018 .
^
"List of all NFL Players Born in Tonga" .
Pro-Football-Reference.com .
Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2023 .
^
a
b 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 .
^ 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 .
^
a
b 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 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f 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 .
^
a
b 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 .
^
"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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^
"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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^
"1987 NFL Draft" . Pro Football Archives .
Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2023 .
^
"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 .
^
"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 .
^
"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 .
^
"Stan Mataele Career Game Log" .
Pro-Football-Reference.com .
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 .
^
"Stan Mataele Stats" . Pro Football Archives .
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 .
^
a
b
"Stan Mataele NFL Transactions" . Pro Football Archives .
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 .
^
"Brooke Mataele" .
University of Northwestern Ohio .
Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023 .