Pio Sagapolutele
| No. 75, 99 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive tackle Defensive end | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | November 28, 1969 American Samoa | ||||||
| Died: | June 7, 2009 (aged 39) Chandler, Arizona, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 297 lb (135 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| College: | San Diego State | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 1991 / round: 4 / pick: 85 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
| |||||||
Pio Alika Sagapolutele (November 28, 1969 – June 7, 2009) was a Samoan professional football defensive tackle who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns,[2] the New England Patriots, and the New Orleans Saints. He was selected by the Browns in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL draft.[3] He started in Super Bowl XXXI for the New England Patriots. He played college football at San Diego State University.
He was born in American Samoa and grew up in Kalihi Hawaii he lived in Kuhio Park Terrance (KPT). He attended Marynoll High school and played football for PAC-5 where they won the state championship in 1985. He had 3 children, Pio Jr, Malia and Sky. Pio died of an aneurysm on June 7, 2009, in Chandler, Arizona, where he lived.[4][5] Following his death his wife sued the National Football League and football helmet maker Riddell Inc. alleging that his death was caused by brain injuries.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Transactions". NFL.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ "Former Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Pio Sagapolutele dead at age 39". Browns. June 8, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ "1991 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Sagapolutele, Pats Super Bowl team starter, dead Archived 2009-06-11 at the Wayback Machine Associated Press
- ^ "Former Patriots DT Pio Sagapolutele dies at the age of 39". New England Patriots. June 8, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ "Widow of Pio Sagapolutele is suing NFL & Riddell over 'wrongful' death". Samoa News. February 27, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- 1969 births
- 2009 deaths
- American football defensive linemen
- American sportspeople of Samoan descent
- San Diego State Aztecs football players
- Cleveland Browns players
- New England Patriots players
- New Orleans Saints players
- Deaths from aneurysm
- Sportspeople from Chandler, Arizona
- Players of American football from American Samoa