Frank Manumaleuga

Frank Toto'a Manumaleuna (May 9, 1956 – June 1, 2022)[1] was an American football linebacker who played three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He first enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles before transferring to De Anza College and lastly San José State University. Manumaleuna attended Phineas Banning High School in Los Angeles, California.[2] He was also a member of the Oakland Invaders and Portland Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL). Manumaleuna died on June 1, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Frank Manumaleuna
No. 54
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born:(1956-05-09)May 9, 1956
Laie, Territory of Hawaii, U.S.
Died:June 1, 2022(2022-06-01) (aged 66)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:Phineas Banning (Los Angeles, California)
College:San Jose State
NFL Draft:1979 / Round: 4 / Pick: 85
Career history
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Manumaleuna participated in high school football, basketball, baseball and track at Phineas Banning High School.[3]

College career

Manumaleuna sustained a spine and neck injury during his only game for the UCLA Bruins as a freshman in 1974 in Knoxville during a 17–17 tie with the Tennessee Volunteers. However, he earned Chevrolet Player of the Game honors after making 25 tackles during the game. He also played one year of basketball for the Bruins.[4] However, the UCLA medical staff would not clear him to resume football activities.

Manumaleuna then played two years of college football at De Anza College and averaged fifteen yards per carry as a fullback.[4][3] He transferred to play for the San Jose State Spartans from 1977 to 1978.[3] He was inducted into the San Jose State University Sports Hall of Fame.[5]

Professional career

Manumaleuna was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL with the 85th pick in the 1979 NFL Draft. He played in 35 games, starting 29, for the Chiefs from 1979 to 1981.[2] He played in 36 games, all starts, for the USFL's Oakland Invaders from 1983 to 1984.[6][7] Manumaleuna played for the Portland Breakers of the USFL during the 1985 season.

Personal life

Manumaleuna’s son Brandon Manumaleuna also played in the NFL.[8] Frank's nephew Eathyn Manumaleuna spent time during the 2014 off-season with the New York Giants and New England Patriots.[8][9]

References
  1. Frank Manumaleuna
  2. "FRANK MANUMALEUNA". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  3. Deutsch, Emilie (September 16, 1978). "Mowin' Samoan stars at SJSU". The Stanford Daily. p. 6. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  4. Durrenberger, Charles (September 23, 1999). "Young Manumaleuna a threat, still a role player". tucsoncitizen.com. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  5. "SJSU Sports Hall of Fame - Complete Listing". sjsuspartans.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  6. "1983 Oakland Invaders". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  7. "1984 Oakland Invaders". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  8. "Frank Manumaleuga". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  9. "EATHYN MANUMALEUNA". foxsports.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
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