Penei Sewell facts for kids
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Sewell with the Detroit Lions in 2022
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| No. 58 – Detroit Lions | |||||
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | October 9, 2000 Malaeimi, American Samoa |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 335 lb (152 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Desert Hills (St. George, Utah, U.S.) | ||||
| College: | Oregon (2018–2020) | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
Penei Sewell (pronounced pen-NAY; born October 9, 2000) is an American Samoan professional football player. He plays as an offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League (NFL). An offensive tackle is a player who blocks defenders to protect the quarterback and help the running backs.
Before joining the NFL, Sewell played college football for the Oregon Ducks. In 2019, he won two important awards: the Outland Trophy and the Morris Trophy. These awards recognize the best offensive linemen in college football.
The Detroit Lions chose Sewell as the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. The NFL draft is where professional teams pick new players from college. He has been selected for the Pro Bowl three times (from 2022 to 2024). The Pro Bowl is an all-star game for the best players in the NFL. He was also named a first-team All-Pro in 2023 and 2024, which means he was considered one of the very best players at his position in the entire league. Penei has two brothers, Nephi and Noah Sewell, who also play professional football.
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Early Life and Football Beginnings
Penei Sewell was born on October 9, 2000, in Malaeimi, a village in American Samoa. This village is close to the capital city of Pago Pago. When he was a child, Penei started playing American football with his three brothers. Their father, Gabriel, became a coach for the sport.
Penei's father saw that his sons had a lot of talent for football. He believed they could even make it to the National Football League (NFL). Because of this, Gabriel moved his family to St. George, Utah, in 2012. In Utah, Penei went to Desert Hills High School and continued to play football. In his final year of high school in 2017, he played in special all-star games like the US Army All-American Bowl. After high school, he decided to play college football for the Oregon Ducks at the University of Oregon.
College Football Journey
Penei Sewell quickly became a key player for the Oregon Ducks. In his first year in 2018, he started seven games as a freshman. However, he missed six games that season because of a high ankle sprain, which is an injury to the ankle.
He came back strong in 2019 and had an amazing season. He won the Morris Trophy and the Outland Trophy, which are major awards for college football linemen. He also shared the 2019 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award with former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. This award celebrates the best college football player of Polynesian heritage. Sewell decided not to play in the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. After that, he announced he would enter the 2021 NFL draft.
Professional Career with the Detroit Lions
Many experts believed Penei Sewell was one of the top players available in the 2021 NFL draft. The Detroit Lions chose him as the seventh player picked overall. In May 2021, he tested positive for COVID-19 and could not attend a special training camp called minicamp. That same month, he signed his first professional contract, which was a four-year deal worth $24.1 million.
Rookie Season and Early Success
As a rookie in 2021, Sewell played and started in 16 games. He only missed the very last game of the regular season. His strong performance earned him a spot on the 2021 Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team. This team recognizes the best first-year players in the NFL.
Continued Growth and Achievements
In Week 14 of the 2022 season, Sewell made a memorable play. He caught a nine-yard pass late in the game, which helped the Lions get a crucial first down. This play contributed to their 34–23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. During the 2022 season, he started all 17 games and was named a Pro Bowl alternate. This means he was next in line to play if another player couldn't make it.
In 2023, Sewell started all 17 games again. He was selected for his second Pro Bowl and earned his first First-team All-Pro honor. He also played in the NFC Championship game with the Lions, a very important playoff game, where they lost 34–31. His fellow players recognized his talent, ranking him 22nd on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024 list.
On April 24, 2024, Sewell signed a new contract with the Lions. It was a four-year extension worth $112 million, keeping him with the team through the 2029 season. He continued his strong play in the 2024 season, starting all 17 games. For his excellent performance, he received first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for the 2024 season.
Family Life
Penei Sewell comes from a family of talented football players. He has three brothers: Gabriel, Nephi, and Noah. All of them are professional football linebackers. Gabriel plays for the Houston Roughnecks in the United Football League. Nephi plays for the New Orleans Saints, and Noah plays for the Chicago Bears. Penei and his brothers are also nephews of former NFL players Isaac Sopoaga and Richard Brown.
