George Holani

George Holani
Holani with the Boise State Broncos in 2020
No. 36 – Seattle Seahawks
PositionsRunning back
Kickoff returner
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (1999-12-16) December 16, 1999
Auckland, New Zealand
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolSt. John Bosco (Bellflower, California, U.S.)
CollegeBoise State (2019–2023)
NFL draft2024: undrafted
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Rushing yards83
Rushing average3.3
Rushing touchdowns1
Receptions3
Receiving yards14
Return yards387
Stats at Pro Football Reference

George Holani (born December 16, 1999) is a New Zealand-born American professional football running back and kickoff returner for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He is of Tongan descent. He played college football for the Boise State Broncos.

Early life

Holani was born in Auckland, New Zealand to Tongan parents. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was a child.[1] Holani attended St. John Bosco High School where he played both rugby (his father's game) and football, and was rated as a three-star recruit when he committed to play college football for the Boise State Broncos.[2][3]

College career

In week 10 of the 2019 season, Holani got his first career start against San Jose State where he rushed for 126 yards and four touchdowns.[4] He was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and a second-team all-Mountain West selection.[5] In his first three seasons from 2019 to 2021, Holani rushed for 1,691 yards and nine touchdown and made 47 receptions for 427 yards and five touchdowns.[6]

In 2022, Holani rushed for 1,157 yards and ten touchdowns and brought in 24 receptions for 151 yards and three touchdowns,[7] earning second-team all-Mountain West honors.[8] In 2023, he rushed for 748 yards and seven touchdowns and brought in 17 receptions for 199 yards.[9] After the season, Holani declared for the 2024 NFL draft.[10] He participated in the 2024 NFL combine after receiving an invite.[11]

Holani finished his Boise State career with 3,569 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, while also hauling in 88 receptions for 777 yards and eight touchdowns.[12]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Wingspan 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10+3⁄8 in
(1.79 m)		 208 lb
(94 kg)		 29+3⁄4 in
(0.76 m)		 9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		 6 ft 0+3⁄8 in
(1.84 m)		 4.52 s 1.57 s 2.64 s 4.33 s 7.32 s 39.0 in
(0.99 m)		 10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)		 24 reps
All values from NFL Combine[13][14]

Holani signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024.[15] He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.[16][17] On December 26, Holani was signed to the active roster after Kenneth Walker III was placed on injured reserve.[18] As a rookie, he appeared in five games, mainly contributing on special teams.[19]

On September 14, 2025, in Seattle's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Holani scored his first NFL touchdown, recovering Seattle's own kickoff in the end zone.[20] In Week 10, he scored his first NFL rushing touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals.[21] On November 29, Holani was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.[22] He appeared in 11 games in the 2025 season. He had 22 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown.[23] With an injury to Zach Charbonnet, he had an expanded role in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl LX.[24] Holani contributed in Super Bowl LX with 13 scrimmage yards in the 29–13 win over the New England Patriots.[25]

Designated as an exclusive rights free agent in the 2026 offseason, the Seahawks tendered Holani on March 2, 2026.[26] Holani signed the tender on March 16.[27]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2024 SEA 5 0 3 10 3.3 8 0 1 -1 -1.0 -1 0 0 0
2025 SEA 11 0 23 73 3.3 9 1 2 15 7.5 11 0 1 1
Career 16 0 25 83 3.3 9 1 3 14 4.7 11 0 1 1

Postseason

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2025 SEA 2 0 5 10 2.0 5 0 4 34 8.5 13 0 0 0
Career 2 0 5 10 2.0 5 0 4 34 8.5 13 0 0 0


Personal life

Holani's parents are both Tongan, and have eleven children together including Holani. Growing up, he often had to babysit his siblings while his parents worked, ingraining him with a sense of responsibility from a young age.[28]

References

  1. ^ Feek, Gavin (July 21, 2024). "Seahawks training camp preview: Can George Holani replace DeeJay Dallas as RB3?". Field Gulls. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  2. ^ Grosbard, Adam (October 2, 2018). "St. John Bosco running back George Holani commits to Boise State". Long Beach Press-Telegram. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  3. ^ Southorn, Dave (October 1, 2018). "Boise State football gets running back commitment from nation's No. 1-ranked team". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Prater, Mike (December 15, 2023). "Holani has built a legendary career — how do we feel about his legacy?". Idaho Press. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  5. ^ Trust, Jay (December 4, 2019). "Boise State's Weaver, Williams and Holani bring home MW Player of the Year awards". KTVB. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  6. ^ "George Holani College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". Sports Reference. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  7. ^ Armstrong, Zack (August 23, 2023). "'He has it all': Boise State's Holani earns spot on Senior Bowl watch list". KTVB. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  8. ^ Wustrow, John (December 17, 2023). "Despite LA Bowl loss, Holani gives his all in likely final game with Broncos". Idaho Press. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  9. ^ Wustrow, John (February 13, 2024). "Holani gets invite to NFL combine". Idaho Press. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  10. ^ Counts, Ron (January 12, 2024). "Offseason tracker: Which Boise State players declared for NFL Draft? Who is returning?". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  11. ^ Counts, Ron (February 13, 2024). "One of Boise State's most productive running backs earns invite to NFL Scouting Combine". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  12. ^ Armstrong, Zack (February 13, 2024). "Boise State RB George Holani earns invite to 2024 NFL Combine". KTVB. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  13. ^ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "George Holani Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  14. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout George Holani College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  15. ^ Boyle, John (May 3, 2024). "Seahawks Sign 16 Undrafted Free Agents". Seahawks.com. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  16. ^ Boyle, John (August 27, 2024). "Seahawks Make Roster Moves, Establish Initial 2024 53-Man Roster". Seahawks.com. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  17. ^ Boyle, John (August 28, 2024). "Seahawks Sign 15 To Practice Squad, Including Veteran Cornerback Artie Burns". Seahawks.com. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  18. ^ Boyle, John (December 26, 2024). "Seahawks Place Kenneth Walker III On Injured Reserve; Sign George Holani Off Practice Squad". Seahawks.com. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  19. ^ "George Holani 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  20. ^ Pryor, Brooke (September 14, 2025). "Kaleb Johnson kickoff blunder helps Seahawks down Steelers". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  21. ^ Benintendi, Connor (November 9, 2025). "Seahawks RB George Holani throws nasty stiff-arm for first career rushing TD". Seattle Seahawks On SI. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  22. ^ "Seahawks' George Holani: Lands on IR". CBS Sports. November 29, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  23. ^ "George Holani 2025 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  24. ^ Cova, Ernesto (January 23, 2026). "George Holani could give the Seahawks' the boost no one saw coming". 12th Man Rising. FanSided. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  25. ^ "Super Bowl LX - Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots - February 8th, 2026". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  26. ^ Boyle, John (March 2, 2026). "Seahawks Tender Exclusive Rights Free Agents Ty Okada & George Holani". Seahawks.com.
  27. ^ Boyle, John (March 16, 2026). "Seahawks RB George Holani Signs ERFA Tender". Seahawks.com.
  28. ^ Southorn, Dave (November 13, 2019). "Why Boise State freshman running back George Holani is built to carry the load". The Athletic. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.