D. J. Tialavea

Donald Tialavea Jr.[1] (born July 27, 1991) is a former American football tight end who is currently a tight ends coach for Utah State. He played college football at Utah State University. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014 as an undrafted free agent. Tialavea was formerly a tight end prior to switching positions before the 2017 NFL season.

D.J. Tialavea
refer to caption
D. J. Tialavea in 2017
Utah State Aggies
Position:Tight ends coach
Personal information
Born: (1991-07-27) July 27, 1991
West Jordan, Utah
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school:West Jordan (UT)
College:Utah State
Undrafted:2014
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • Utah State (2020)
    Graduate assistant
  • Utah State (2021–present)
    Tight ends coach
Career NFL statistics
Games played:2
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:1
Receiving touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Tialavea attended West Jordan High School in West Jordan, Utah. During his high school football career, he also played on the offensive and defensive lines. In addition to being a three-year letterwinner in football, Tialavea was also a three-year letterwinner in basketball and baseball.[2]

College career

Tialavea appeared in 40 games for the Utah State Aggies. He ended his college career with 198 receiving yards and five touchdowns.[2]

Professional career

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tialavea was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft.[3] He was released on May 12, 2014.[4]

Buffalo Bills

After being released by the Jaguars, Tialavea was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad on September 2, 2014.[3] He was released by the Bills on September 30, 2014.[5]

Atlanta Falcons

Tialavea was signed to the Falcons' practice squad on November 24, 2015.[6] After spending almost two seasons on the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster on December 22, 2016.[7] In his NFL debut two days later against the Carolina Panthers, Tialavea caught a touchdown for his only reception of the day.[8]

Tialavea was inactive for the Falcons' 34-28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.[9][10]

On September 1, 2017, Tialavea was released by the Falcons.[11]

Chicago Bears

On September 20, 2017, Tialavea was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad.[12] He was released on September 26, 2017.[13] He was re-signed on December 27, 2017.[14]

Coaching career

Utah State

In 2020, Tialavea joined the coaching staff at his alma mater, Utah State, as a graduate assistant working with the tight ends. Head Coach Gary Andersen was fired mid-season that year. The following January, Tialavea was promoted to tight ends coach by newly hired head coach Blake Anderson.[15]

Personal life

D.J.'s parents are Don and Tami Tialavea. He has two sisters. Tialavea graduated from Utah State with a degree in sports management in 2013, and then a master's degree in education in 2019, also from Utah State.[15] D.J. is also an Eagle Scout.[16]

References
  1. "About Us". thedontialaveafoundation.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  2. "Utah State Bio". utahstateaggies.com. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  3. "TE D.J. Tialavea to Practice Squad". buffalobills.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  4. "Jaguars release 6, including G Will Rackley". sandiegouniontribune.com. May 12, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  5. "TE Jamie Childers signed to Bills Practice Squad". buffalobills.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  6. "Tialavea Signed to Practice Squad, Jensen Waived". atlantafalcons.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  7. Jackson, Curtis. "Falcons Waive Therezie, Goodman; Promote Keyes, Tialavea". atlantafalcons.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  8. "Tialavea emerges as unlikely hero for Falcons - Philadelphia Herald". www.philadelphiaherald.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  9. Weaver, Tim (February 5, 2017). "Falcons vs. Patriots: Final inactives for Super Bowl LI". USA Today. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  10. "Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  11. Conway, Kelsey (September 1, 2017). "2017 Atlanta Falcons Roster Cuts Tracker: Deadline To 53 Is 4 P.M. ET On Saturday". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017.
  12. "Report: D.J. Tialavea signed to Bears practice squad". 247sports.com. September 20, 2017.
  13. Gantt, Darin (September 26, 2017). "Bears add two to practice squad, bringing back Tre McBride". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  14. "D.J. Tialavea signed to Bears practice squad". 247Sports.com. December 27, 2017.
  15. "DJ Tialavea Named Tight Ends Coach at Utah State". utahstateaggies.com. Utah State University SID. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  16. Wendell, Bryan (January 27, 2017). "Atlanta Falcons tight end D.J. Tialavea is an Eagle Scout. On January 3, 2018, Tialavea married former Gonzaga and BYU-Hawaii volleyball player Kalistina Takau". Bryan on Scouting. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
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