Players

HOW ACQUIRED:

Selected with the 13th pick in the second round (45th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. Highest choice used on a linebacker since Anthony Simmons was taken 15th overall in the 1998 draft. 

NFL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

● His 431 career tackles rank second in club history for most tackles in first four NFL seasons (Terry Beeson, 506).

● First Seahawks player to lead team in tackles four consecutive seasons.

● Has led team in tackles 22 times in 63 career games. Has recorded 10 or more tackles in a game 11 times.

● Named to the NFC Pro Bowl each of his first three seasons.

● Named All Pro for the first time in his career in 2007.

● Started 55 consecutive games before missing his first career game at Philadelphia on November 11, 2008 (groin).

● Ranks second in team history with 54 career  postseason tackles (Leroy Hill, 64), including 22 in the 2005 Super Bowl run.

● Established a career high 123 tackles in 2006.

● Set a career high with four interceptions, including three in one game (at Philadelphia, 12/2) in 2007.

● In 2006, became the first Seahawks middle linebacker to start back-to-back seasons at the position in nearly a decade.

● Became the first player to record back-to- back 100-tackle seasons since Anthony Simmons (2000-01).

● In 2005, became the second rookie in club history to lead the team in tackles (105) and first since 1977 when Terry Beeson recorded 134.

● Set a career high with 4.0 sacks in 2005.

● Returned an interception 38 yards for a touch- down and registered nine tackles in a 42-0 shutout in Philadelphia (12/5/05) on Monday Night Football.Week for Week 13.

HONORS:

2007:

NFC Pro Bowl, Associated Press First Team, NFC Player of the Week for Week 13.

2006:

NFC Pro Bowl.

2005:

NFC Pro Bowl, PWF/PFWA All-Rookie Team, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for December & January, USA Today's All-Joe Team.

COLLEGE:

Transferred to USC after spending freshman year at the University of Maine. Started 25 games in two years for the Trojans as they won back-to-back national championships. Finished USC career with 202 tackles, nine sacks, seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, 18 pass deflections, and one touchdown. Garnered numberous honors as a RS junior. First-team All American selection by Sports Illustrated and All-Pac-10 Conference first-team pick. Recipient of USC's co-Most Inspirational Player Award, Co-Lifter Award, and Bob Chandler Award. Led team in tackles for second straight year with 104. Honored with the John McKay Award, given annually to the underclassman with the most competitive spirt as a RS sophomore.

PERSONAL:

Attended King Phillip Regional (Wrentham, Mass.) High School. Played football for his father, former NFL fullback and special teams great Mosi Tatupu, who is now an assistant coach at Curry College. Played linebacker and quarterback senior year. Recorded 100 tackles. Threw for 800 yards and 10 TDs while rushing for 450 yards and five scores. All-state pick and two-time (1999-00) Sun Chronicle All-Star and all-league linebacker. Earned all-league Defensive MVP honors as a senior. Majored in Sociology.