Lofa Tatupu

2007: Named All Pro for first time in career and selected to the NFC Pro Bowl for the third time in as many seasons. Started all 16 games and became the first Seahawks player to lead the team in tackles for three consecutive seasons since Chad Brown (1997-99). Recorded 109 tackles, career-high four interceptions, nine passes defensed and career-high three forced fumbles. Helped Seattle’s defense rank tied for sixth in NFL allowing just 18.2 points per game. Tied for team lead with eight solo tackles and forced two fumbles during season opener vs. Tampa Bay (9/9). Recorded season-high 12 tackles (11 solo) and intercepted one pass for 16 yards the following week at Arizona (9/16). Registered eight tackles (seven solo) and forced one fumble at San Francisco (9/30). Tallied seven tackles (one solo) and registered only sack of the season the next week at Pittsburgh (10/7). Led team with nine solo stops at St. Louis (11/25). Had one of the finest games of career while earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors at Philadelphia (12/2).  Led team with 11 solo tackles and tied a franchise record with three interceptions for a combined 100 return yards. Recorded postseason-high 12 tackles (six solo) in the NFC Wild Card Game vs. Washington (1/5/08). Tallied seven tackles (five solo) and recovered a fumble and returned it 12 yards to Packers’ 1-yard line to se up Seattle’s first touchdown.

Pro: His 337 career tackles rank second in club history for most tackles in first three NFL seasons (Terry Beeson, 404). Has recorded 10 tackles or more ten times. First Seahawks player to lead the team in tackles for three consecutive seasons since Chad Brown (1997-99). Has led team in tackles 17 times in NFL Career (48 games). Selected with the 13th pick in the second round (45th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. Highest choice used on a linebacker since Simmons was taken 15th overall in the 1998 draft.  Only second player chosen from USC in club history (Kris Richard 2002).

2005: Was selected to the Pro Bowl after stellar rookie campaign. Led the team in total tackles (105) becoming second rookie in club history to lead team in tackles and first since 1977 when Terry Beeson recorded 134. Led team in tackles five times. Also registered 4.0 sacks, one fumble recovery, and three interceptions, including one for a touchdown. The 38-yard interception returned for a touchdown and nine tackles contributed to a 42-0 shutout in Philadephia (12/5) and a share of Monday Night Football Horse Trailer Award. Registered first-career sack and had six tackles in first home game versus Atlanta (9/18). Racked up nine tackles and first-career interception at St. Louis (10/9). Set a career-high 13 tackles versus New York Giants (11/27). Recovered first-career fumble versus San Francisco (12/11). Started all three postseason games and returned first-career postseason interception 21 yards in NFC Championship against Carolina (1/22/06). Racked up 22 postseason tackles, including nine in Super Bowl XL (2/5/06).

2006: Started all 16 games, becoming the first Seahawks middle linebacker to start back-to-back seasons at the position in nearly a decade. Named to his second Pro Bowl in as many years while leading the team with career-high 123 tackles (93 solo). Became first player to record back-to-back 100-tackle seasons since Anthony Simmons (2000-01). Also recorded 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Led the team in tackles seven separate times. Registered 12 tackles (six solo) and recovered his second-career fumble versus Arizona (9/17). Tallied 11 tackles  (nine solo) at Chicago (10/1). Had six solo tackles and only interception of the season the following week at St. Louis (10/15). Had nine solo stops and one passed defensed at Kansas City (10/29). Recorded six tackles (five solo) and half a sack versus Oakland on Monday Night Football (11/6). Registered 10 tackles vs. St. Louis (11/12) and at San Francisco (11/19) where he also forced his first-career fumble. Registered fifth double-digit tackle game this season tying a season high with 12 tackles (nine solo) and a sack versus San Diego (12/24). Led the team in tackles for seventh time this season registering seven tackles (five solo) and a forced fumble in the season finale at Tampa Bay (12/31). Started both postseason games and tallied 13 tackles, including eight (six solo) in the NFC Divisional Game at Chicago (1/14/06). 

Honors: 2005, NFC Pro Bowl, PWF/PFWA All-Rookie Team, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for December/January, USA Today’s All-Joe Team. 2006, NFC Pro Bowl. 2007, NFC Pro Bowl, Associated Press First Team, NFC Player of the Week for Week 13.

College: Transferred to USC after spending freshman year at the University of Maine. Started 25 games in two years for the Trojans as they won back-to-back national championships. Finished USC career with 202 tackles, nine sacks, seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, 18 pass deflections, and one touchdown. Garnered numberous honors as a RS junior. First-team All American selection by Sports Illustrated and All-Pac-10 Conference first-team pick. Recipient of USC’s co-Most Inspirational Player Award, Co-Lifter Award, and Bob Chandler Award. Led team in tackles for second straight year with 104. Honored with the John McKay Award, given annually to the underclassman with the most competitive spirt as a RS sophomore.

Personal: Attended King Phillip Regional (Wrentham, Mass.) High School. Played football for his father, former NFL fullback and special teams great Mosi Tatupu, who is now an assistant coach at Curry College. Played linebacker and quarterback senior year. Recorded 100 tackles. Threw for 800 yards and 10 TDs while rushing for 450 yards and five scores. All-state pick and two-time (1999-00) Sun Chronicle All-Star and all-league linebacker. Earned all-league Defensive MVP honors as a senior. Majored in Sociology.