Jesse Sapolu

Jesse Sapolu
No. 61
PositionsCenter
Guard
Personal information
Born (1961-03-10) March 10, 1961
Apia, Samoa
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight278 lb (126 kg)
Career information
High schoolFarrington (Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.)
CollegeHawaii
NFL draft1983: 11th round, 289th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Games played182
Games started154
Fumble recoveries1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Manase Jesse Sapolu (born March 10, 1961) is a Samoan former professional American football player in the National Football League (NFL). He played both center and offensive guard, and played his entire career for the San Francisco 49ers.

Sapolu attended Farrington High School and the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. Standing 6 feet 4 inches, 278 lbs., he was selected by the Oakland Invaders in the 17th round (199th pick overall) of the 1983 USFL draft, and selected by 49ers in the 11th round (289th pick overall) of the 1983 NFL draft. He signed with the 49ers on July 10, 1983.

Sapolu is one of six 49ers to own four Super Bowl championship rings (1984, 1988, 1989, and 1994), and the only one of those to earn a ring with the '94 team rather than their first title in 1981.[1] He earned Pro Bowl honors in 1993 and 1994.

Since retiring in 1997, Sapolu and his wife Lisa have lived in Southern California,[2] and remains active in the community as well with the 49ers alumni.

Sapolu has been an integral part in establishing the Polynesian Pro Football Hall of Fame, of which he is a co-founder. He now runs Men In The Trenches (MITT) in California.[3]

References

  1. ^ Janower, Jacob (February 8, 2021). "Super Bowl winners by player: Who has the most rings in NFL history?". Sporting News. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  2. ^ Virgen, Steve (February 1, 2013). "Sapolu remains passionate, humble". Daily Pilot. Orange County, California. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  3. ^ "MITT 2020 Opening Day - February 2020".

Further reading

  • Sapolu, Jesse (2012). I Gave My Heart to San Francisco. Newport Beach: Celebrity Publishing. ISBN 9780983705963.
  • Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame profile Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  • Media related to Jesse Sapolu at Wikimedia Commons