Mike Iupati facts for kids
Iupati with the Seattle Seahawks in 2020
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| Washington State Cougars football | |||||
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| Position: | Offensive Line Coach | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | May 12, 1987 Vaitogi, American Samoa |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 331 lb (150 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Western (Anaheim, California) | ||||
| College: | Idaho (2006–2009) | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 17 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| As coach: | |||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
Michael Iupati (born May 12, 1987) is a Samoan-American former professional football player. He played as a guard for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Mike was born in American Samoa and later moved to California. He played college football for the Idaho Vandals. He was recognized as an All-American in 2009. The San Francisco 49ers chose him in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played for the 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, and Seattle Seahawks during his career.
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Mike Iupati's Early Life and High School Football
Mike Iupati was born and grew up in Vaitogi, American Samoa. His family moved to Garden Grove, California, after he finished junior high school. His father, Aposetolo, worked as a mechanic. His mother is Belinda Iupati.
Mike went to Western High School in Anaheim. He started playing football there. His coach, Odell Harrington, helped him a lot. Mike got his chance to play in his second year of high school. Another player got hurt, so Mike stepped in.
High School Achievements and Sports
Mike played as a lineman on both offense and defense. He earned honors for his play in California. He was also a team captain. In his junior year, he made 80 tackles and 12 sacks. He was chosen for the All-CIF team. Mike also competed in wrestling and track & field. He threw the shot put.
Many colleges did not offer Mike scholarships at first. This was because his grades were not high enough. English was his second language, which made school harder. He planned to go to a junior college. But then, a coach from the University of Idaho saw him. The coach, Johnny Nansen, offered him a spot with the Idaho Vandals. He convinced Mike and his family that Idaho was a good choice.
Mike Iupati's College Football Career at Idaho
Mike Iupati went to the University of Idaho in Moscow. He played for the Vandals from 2006 to 2009. In 2005, he could not play as a freshman. This was due to academic reasons. His family had to take out a loan to pay for his first year.
He joined the Vandals football team in 2006. He played as a backup in his first year. This is called being a "redshirt" freshman. It means he practiced but didn't play in games. In 2007, he started every game as a left guard. He became a key player for the team.
Key Seasons and Awards in College
Mike had shoulder surgery after the 2007 season. He returned to play in 2008. He started 8 of 10 games that year. He earned second-team All-WAC honors.
In 2009, his senior year, Mike was a top player. He started all twelve games at left guard. He was known for blocking defenders well. He did not allow any quarterback sacks that season. He helped the Vandals have a winning season. They also won their first bowl game since 1998. They beat Bowling Green 43–42 in the Humanitarian Bowl.
Mike was named a finalist for the Outland Trophy. This award goes to the best interior lineman in college football. He was chosen as a consensus All-American. He was also named first-team All-WAC. He was the first Idaho Vandal to be an All-American since 1976.
Mike Iupati's Professional NFL Journey
Mike Iupati was seen as one of the best offensive guards for the 2010 NFL draft. Many scouts thought he would be picked in the first or early second round. Some even thought he could play left tackle. One expert called him the "highest-rated guard" since Steve Hutchinson.
To get ready for the NFL Combine, Mike trained hard. He worked with former NFL player Jackie Slater. At the combine, he was ranked very high. The San Francisco 49ers picked him in the first round. He was the 17th player chosen overall. This was a big deal for him and for the University of Idaho.
Playing for the San Francisco 49ers
On July 30, 2010, Mike signed a five-year contract with the 49ers. He started as the team's left guard. He had a great start to his first season. He did not get any penalties or allow any sacks for many weeks. He helped the 49ers' running game a lot. He was named to the All-NFC West Team. He was also chosen for the 2010 NFL All-Rookie team.
In 2012, Mike had an amazing season. He was named to the 2012 All-Pro first-team. This means he was one of the best players in the league at his position. He was also chosen for the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is a special game for the best players.
At the end of the 2012 season, Mike and the 49ers played in Super Bowl XLVII. He started in the game. But the 49ers lost a close game to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 34–31.
Time with the Arizona Cardinals
On March 10, 2015, Mike signed a new contract. He joined the Arizona Cardinals. It was a five-year deal. In November 2015, he had a neck injury during a game. He was taken off the field in an ambulance. But he returned to play the very next week. He started every game for the rest of that season. He was chosen for his fourth Pro Bowl. He also made the Second-team All-Pro.
In 2017, Mike started as the Cardinals' left guard again. He got a triceps injury in the first week. He missed two games because of it. He was later placed on injured reserve. This meant he couldn't play for a while.
In 2018, Mike started ten games. He missed two games because of a back injury. Then, in Week 13, he hurt his knee. He was diagnosed with an MCL injury. He was placed on injured reserve again.
Final Seasons with the Seattle Seahawks
On March 14, 2019, Mike signed a one-year contract. He joined the Seattle Seahawks. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate for the 2019 season. This means he was a backup choice for the Pro Bowl.
Mike signed with the Seahawks again in April 2020. He started 11 games as left guard. He missed six games due to injuries. On February 22, 2021, Mike Iupati announced he was retiring from the NFL. He played for 11 seasons.
Mike Iupati's Family Life
After a football game in 2009, Mike met Ashley Galeai. She later became his wife. Ashley and Mike Iupati got married in February 2012. They have a son named KoaAli'i, who was born in August 2012. The family lives near Star, Idaho.
Mike has a sister named Fionna. He also has two brothers, Aposetolo Jr. and Andrew. After he made it to the NFL, Mike bought his parents a home in Corona, California. His younger brother, Andrew, also played college football. He played defensive tackle for the Oregon Ducks.
