Penei Sewell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Penei Sewell

Sewell with the Lions in 2022
No. 58 – Detroit Lions
Position:	Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born:	(2000-10-09) October 9, 2000 (age 23) Malaeimi, American Samoa
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	335 lb (152 kg)
Career information
High school:	Desert Hills (St. George, Utah)
College:	Oregon (2018–2020)
NFL Draft:	2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7
Career history
Detroit Lions (2021–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2022) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2021) Outland Trophy (2019) Polynesian Football Player of the Year (college) (2019) Morris Trophy (2019) Unanimous All-American (2019)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 13, 2023
Games played: 45 Games started: 45 Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Penei Sewell (/pɛnˈneɪ/ PEN-nay; born October 9, 2000) is an American football offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, where he won the Outland and Morris trophies in 2019.

Sewell opted out of his junior season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic before being drafted seventh overall by the Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft. A native of American Samoa, he and his family moved to the continental United States in 2012, settling in Utah. He is the older brother of NFL player Noah Sewell.

Early life

Sewell was born on October 9, 2000, in Malaeimi, a village in American Samoa near the capital of Pago Pago. As a child, he would begin playing American football alongside his three brothers after his father Gabriel became a coach of the sport. Seeing the potential for his children to make it to the National Football League (NFL), Gabriel would move his family to St. George, Utah in 2012. There, Sewell attended and played football at Desert Hills High School. As a senior in 2018, he played in the US Army All-American and Polynesian Bowls before committing to the University of Oregon to play college football for the Oregon Ducks.

College career

Sewell became an immediate starter during his freshman year for the Ducks in 2018, starting seven games but missing six due to a high ankle sprain. He returned in 2019 and won the Morris Trophy and Outland Trophy. In addition, he and former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa were selected as co-recipients of the 2019 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award. Sewell opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and declared for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Professional career

Regarded as one of the best overall prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft, Sewell was selected seventh overall by the Detroit Lions. He tested positive for COVID-19 in May 2021 and had to sit out of minicamp. He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $24.1 million, the same month. As a rookie, he appeared and started in 16 games, only being inactive for the regular season finale. He was named to the 2021 PFWA All-Rookie Team.

In Week 14 of the 2022 season, Sewell had a nine-yard reception late in the fourth quarter to give the Lions a crucial first down in the 34–23 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. In the 2022 season, he started all 17 games and was named an Pro Bowl alternate.

Regular season

Personal life

Sewell has three brothers: Gabriel, Nephi, and Noah. Gabriel is a linebacker for the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL, Nephi is a linebacker for the New Orleans Saints, and Noah is a linebacker for the Chicago Bears. The brothers are nephews of former NFL players Isaac Sopoaga and Richard Brown.