Brandon Manumaleuna facts for kids

Brandon Michael Manumaleuna (born January 4, 1980) is a former American professional football player. He played as a tight end, a position that blocks for runners and catches passes. He also sometimes played as a fullback, which is another blocking position.

Brandon played college football for the University of Arizona. After college, he was chosen by the St. Louis Rams in the 2001 NFL draft. He also played for the San Diego Chargers and the Chicago Bears during his career.

Early Life and High School Sports

Brandon Manumaleuna has a mixed background, with Samoan and African-American heritage. He grew up in Harbor City, California, and went to Narbonne High School there.

In high school, Brandon was a talented athlete. He was recognized as a top defensive lineman in California. Besides football, he also played basketball and competed in track. This means he was good at many different sports!

College Football Journey

Brandon attended the University of Arizona from 1997 to 2000. While there, he studied political science.

He started his college football career as a defensive lineman. Later, he switched positions to become a tight end and an H-back. These roles involve both blocking and catching passes. By the end of his college career, Brandon had caught 40 passes for 544 yards and scored three touchdowns. In 1999, he was named to the Second-team All-Pac-10, which means he was one of the best players in his college conference.

Professional Football Career

Playing for the St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams picked Brandon Manumaleuna in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL draft. He joined the team in June 2001.

In his first year, 2001, he caught his first pass, which was also his first touchdown, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2002, he had eight catches for 106 yards and one touchdown.

The 2003 season was a great year for Brandon. He had his career bests with 29 catches for 238 yards and two touchdowns. He made a long 39-yard catch against the Atlanta Falcons. He also scored touchdowns against the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions.

In 2004, Brandon continued to be an important player, catching 15 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown. He even had a career-long 48-yard catch against the New England Patriots. In 2005, he caught 13 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown before dealing with a knee injury.

Time with the San Diego Chargers

In 2006, Brandon was traded to the San Diego Chargers. He quickly made an impact, catching 14 passes for 91 yards and scoring three touchdowns. He had a great game against the Cincinnati Bengals, catching two touchdowns. He also helped the Chargers' running game with his strong blocking.

In 2007, Brandon caught 10 passes for 86 yards and one touchdown. He had a 40-yard catch against the Kansas City Chiefs, which was his longest catch since 2004. He also scored a touchdown against the Detroit Lions. He played in playoff games that year, helping his team advance.

He continued to play for the Chargers in 2008 and 2009. In 2008, he caught 15 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. In 2009, he had 5 catches for 13 yards.

One Season with the Chicago Bears

On March 5, 2010, Brandon Manumaleuna signed with the Chicago Bears. He played one season with the team, appearing in all 16 games and starting 13 of them. He caught 5 passes for 43 yards and one touchdown for the Bears. He was released by the team in July 2011.

Brandon Manumaleuna's Career Stats

Brandon Manumaleuna played in 158 regular season games during his NFL career. He caught a total of 115 passes for 1,008 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. He was known for his strong blocking as a tight end and fullback.

Regular season

Playoffs

Personal Life and Family

The name Manumaleuna means "bird-of-paradise". When he wasn't playing football, Brandon enjoyed playing basketball and spending time with his family.

Football runs in Brandon's family! His father, Frank Manumaleuga, was also an NFL player. Frank played as a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1979 to 1981. He played college football at UCLA.

Brandon showed his football talent early on. When he was 11 years old, he won the NFL's Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition. This competition tests young athletes' skills in punting, passing, and kicking a football.

Brandon Manumaleuna is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.