Mosi Tatupu
| No. 30, 44 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Special teamer / Fullback / Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth: | April 26, 1955 |
| Place of birth: | Pago Pago, American Samoa |
| Date of death: | February 23, 2010 (aged 54) |
| Place of death: | Attleboro, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 227 lb (103 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Honolulu (HI) Punahou |
| College: | Southern California |
| NFL Draft: | 1978 / Round: 8 / Pick: 216 |
| Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Player stats at PFR | |
Mosiula Faasuka Tatupu (April 26, 1955 – February 23, 2010) was a National Football League special teamer and running back from American Samoa who, during a fifteen-year professional career, played for the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams. His tenure with the Patriots lasted from 1978 to 1990. He made the Pro Bowl in 1986.
Tatupu was a standout player at Punahou School where he set many Hawaii state rushing records. He graduated in 1974.
Tatupu attended the University of Southern California, playing in the 1978 Hula Bowl and finished his career with 223 rushing attempts for 1277 yards (5.73 yards per attempt avg.). The Mosi Tatupu Award, given annually to the College Football Special Teams Player of the Year by the Maui Quarterback Club and the Hula Bowl, bears his name.
Drafted in 1978 by the New England Patriots (8th round, 215th overall), Tatupu played fullback and became an ace on special teams. He rushed the ball 612 times for 2,415 yards and 18 touchdowns; in the 1983 season he led the league with 5.5 rushing yards per attempt. He caught 96 passes for 843 yards and two touchdowns, against the Colts in 1981 and the Falcons in 1983. His season high for rushing yards came in 1983 with 578 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while in 1984 he set a personal best with 16 catches for 159 yards. In 1987 against the Raiders Tatupu threw a 15-yard touchdown to Tony Collins.
He was used mostly on special teams kick coverage. He did have seven kick returns for 56 yards in his career.
Tatupu was the head coach at King Philip Regional High School in Wrentham, Massachusetts. Former New England Patriots Center Pete Brock was one of his Assistant Coaches.
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