Junior Siavii

Saousoalii Poe Siavii, Jr. (/ˈsiːæviː/ SEE-a-VEE; November 14, 1978 – January 13, 2022) was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Seattle Seahawks. He played college football at the University of Oregon.

Junior Siavii
refer to caption
Siavii in the 2011 NFL preseason.
No. 94, 78
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:(1978-11-14)November 14, 1978
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Died:January 13, 2022(2022-01-13) (aged 43)
Leavenworth, Kansas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:320 lb (145 kg)
Career information
High school:Tafuna (AS)
College:Oregon
NFL Draft:2004 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • All-NorCal (2000)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:56
Sacks:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Siavii attended Tafuna High School. He played for one year at Dixie State Junior College, before leaving for Butte Community College.[1] He played 2 seasons, receiving All-NorCal Conference honors in 2000. In 2001, he was declared ineligible and was forced to spend the year earning his degree, before transferring to the University of Oregon.

As a junior, he was mainly a reserve defensive tackle with only 2 starts, posting 15 tackles (2.5 for loss) and a half sack. As a senior, he was named a starter in a defensive line that included Igor Olshansky, registering 43 tackles and 2 sacks.

He finished his 2-year career with 58 tackles (8.5 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections, and one fumble recovery.[2]

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

Siavii was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round (36th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft.[3][4] He was expected to be a run stopper on the defensive line but struggled as a rookie. He collected 12 tackles (4 for loss), one sack and 3 quarterback pressures.

In 2005, his playing time was limited by a knee injury he suffered in training camp. He played in 14 games, recording 15 tackles and 3 quarterback pressures.

In 2006, repeated knee injuries kept Siavii on the physically unable to perform list before he was waived on September 2, 2006.[5] He eventually needed microfracture surgery on his right knee.[6]

Dallas Cowboys

After being out of football for 2 years, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys on January 23, 2008. He was released on August 31.

On January 12, 2009, he was re-signed. He played in 16 games registering 11 tackles.[7]

On April 8, 2010, he was re-signed by the team.[8] He was cut on September 4, 2010.[9]

Seattle Seahawks

On September 5, 2010, he was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks.[10] He played in 14 games (6 starts), while setting a career-high in tackles (30), before being placed on the injured reserve list with a bruised spinal cord injury on December 23. He was released on September 4, 2011.

On August 19, 2005, he was arrested for misdemeanor assault for his role in a bar fight in Minnesota. [11]

He was arrested On August 26, 2019, for charges related to illegal firearms in Kansas City, Missouri.[12] He was indicted by the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri on additional conspiracy and drug-trafficking charges; this supersedes his original indictment on November 15, 2019.[13] On July 31, 2020, he was arrested on charges of 2nd degree burglary and a misdemeanor stealing charge.[14]

While awaiting trial at United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, on January 13, 2022, Siavii was found unresponsive in his cell. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at the age of 43.[15]

References
  1. "Former NJCAA Student-Athletes Currently in the NFL" (PDF). National Junior College Athletic Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  2. "Linebacker signed to one-year contract". July 21, 2004. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  3. "2004 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  4. "Chiefs not likely to fare as well in draft as in 2015". February 16, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  5. "Lions cut draft bust Rogers, No. 2 pick in 2003". September 2, 2006. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  6. "Former Ducks defensive tackle Junior Siavii gets second chance at pro career with the Dallas Cowboys". October 27, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  7. "Cowboys sign linemen Hatcher, Siavii". April 8, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  8. "Cowboys sign linemen Hatcher, Siavii". April 8, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  9. "Cowboys go younger at nose tackle". September 7, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  10. "Junior Siavii headed to Seattle". September 5, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  11. "Chiefs training camp spawns misbehavior".
  12. "Junior Siavii charged with illegal firearms". August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  13. "Additional Charges Filed Against Former NFL Player, More Defendants in Drug-Trafficking Conspiracy". November 15, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  14. "Ex-Chiefs player again faces charges, this time for burglary". KMBC.com. July 31, 2020.
  15. "Leavenworth penitentiary inmate dies; identified as ex-Chiefs player". KMBC.com. January 14, 2022.
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