Junior Seau

Tiaina Baul "Junior" Seau Jr. (pronounced /ˈseɪ.oʊ/; born January 19, 1969, in San Diego, California) is an American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers during the 1990 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Southern California, and is the progenitor of the "NFL-USC linebacker."^[1]

A nine-time All-Pro and 12-time Pro Bowl selection, Seau was a member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

Early years

Though born in San Diego, his early years were spent with his family in American Samoa. Seau returned to California prior to grade school and has since resided in California. Seau attended Oceanside High School, and was an excellent student (a California All-Academic athlete with a 3.6 GPA in high school), and a letterman in football, basketball, and track and field. As a football player, Seau was a starter at linebacker and tight end, and as a senior, he was named the Avocado League Offensive Player of the Year. In basketball, as a senior, he was named the California Interscholastic Federation San Diego Section Player of the Year. In track and field he was the Avocado League Champion in the shot put.

College career

After graduating from high school, Seau attended the University of Southern California. After sitting out the 1987 season, he lettered in his final two seasons, 1988 and 1989, posting 19 sacks in 1989 en route to a unanimous first-team All-American selection.

At USC, Seau wore jersey number 55, a number worn by other USC linebackers, including player and NFL coach Jack Del Rio, Chris Claiborne, Willie McGinest, and most recently, USC linebacker Keith Rivers. Like USC jersey number 58 (worn by Lofa Tatupu and Rey Maualuga), USC jersey number 55 is celebrated by the USC team and Trojan fans (and studied by NFL scouts) -- it means membership in the exclusive USC linebacker group widely known as "Club 55" and connotes "future NFL linebacker star". Though not a "retired" jersey number, it carries a tradition and a wearing-player's obligation to excel, and, thus, is issued to incoming rookie linebacker players on a very thoughtful and selective basis by the USC coaching staff.^[2][3]

Seau is considered the progenitor of the "NFL-USC linebacker". In the decades that followed Seau, the USC football program has mentored a widely-recognized linebacker development program ("USC Linebacker U."), currently managed by USC head coach Pete Carroll and assistant head coach and linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. Noteworthy NFL-USC linebacker alumni include three-season All-American and NFL player Richard Wood, Seau, Del Rio, McGinest, Claiborne, Tatupu, Thomas Williams, Dallas Sartz, Rivers, Brian Cushing, Kaluka Maiava, Clay Matthews III and Rey Maualuga.^[1]

Professional career

San Diego Chargers

After three years as a Trojan, Seau entered the NFL draft after his junior season and was chosen in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft by Bobby Beathard's San Diego Chargers as the fifth overall draft selection. Seau quickly became one of the most popular players on the Chargers, receiving the nickname "Tasmanian Devil".^{[citation needed]}

Seau started 15 of the 16 games he played in during his rookie season, and was named an alternate to the 1991 Pro Bowl after recording 85 tackles. In 1991, he picked up 129 tackles and seven sacks and was named to the 1992 Pro Bowl, the first of 12 consecutive Pro Bowls for Seau. He started no less than 13 games for the Chargers over the ensuing 11 seasons, registering a career high with 155 tackles in 1994. That year, Seau assisted his team to a championship appearance in Super Bowl XXIX and logged 19 tackles in the AFC Championship Game. In 2002, his final year with the Chargers, he logged a then-career low 84 tackles and missed his final Pro Bowl with an ankle injury.

Miami Dolphins

On April 16, 2003, Seau was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a conditional draft choice. He started 15 games that season for the Dolphins, making 133 tackles on the year. However, in 2004, a torn pectoral muscle limited Seau to eight games, 68 tackles, and one sack. He started five of the first seven games he played in with the Dolphins in 2005, but was placed on injured reserve on November 24 with an achilles tendon injury. On March 6, 2006, Seau was released by the Dolphins.

First retirement

Seau announced his retirement at an emotional press conference on August 14, 2006, after signing a one-day contract with the San Diego Chargers. He called it his "graduation", because he was not going to stop working. He contended that he was merely moving on to the next phase of his life.^[4]

New England Patriots

Seau returned to football just four days later, signing with the New England Patriots.^[5] He started 10 of the first 11 games for the Patriots, recording 69 tackles before breaking his right arm while making a tackle in a game against the Chicago Bears. He was placed on injured reserve on November 27.

On May 21, 2007, Seau re-signed with the New England Patriots for the 2007 season. In September 2007 Seau was named one of the Patriots' seven captains.^[6] He would go on to start four of the 16 games he played in for the Patriots in 2007, and then started the Patriots' two playoff games before Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants. The Patriots, who had not lost a game in the season to that point, fell to the Giants in the game, with Seau still eluding his first Super Bowl ring.

Seau re-signed with the Patriots on December 5, 2008, replacing linebacker Adalius Thomas, who was placed on injured reserve earlier in the season. On December 22, 2008, a fan was arrested for trespassing and assault and battery for tackling Seau as he stood on the New England sideline during a home game against the Arizona Cardinals. Seau has stated that he did not feel threatened by the fan; he thought that the fan was happy and excited and got carried away.^[7]

On October 7, 2009, NFL Network reported that the New England Patriots had an "agreement in principle" with Seau for a fourth one-year deal; Seau took physicals and worked out with the team.^[8] He officially signed on October 13.^[9]

Personal

Seau owns a clothing line, Say-Ow, as well as "Seau's The Restaurant" in Mission Valley, San Diego.

Junior Seau Foundation

In 1991, Seau created the Seau Foundation, which raises money for drug awareness, child abuse prevention, and college scholarships. The Foundation gives out an annual award to the individual who exemplifies the mission statement of the Junior Seau Foundation.

• 2000–– Legend of the Year — Sid Brooks
• 2001–– Legend of the Year — Lance Alworth
• 2002–– Legend of the Year — Sid Gillman
• 2003–– Legend of the Year — Don Coryell
• 2004–– Legend of the Year — Marcus Allen
• 2005–– Legend of the Year — Deacon Jones
• 2006–– Legend of the Year — Bobby Ross
• 2007–– Legend of the Year — Warren Moon
• 2008–– Legend of the Year — Marshall Faulk
• 2009–– Legend of the Year — Charlie Joiner

References

External links

• Junior Seau Foundation
• Seau's The Restaurant
• New England Patriots bio