Junior Seau (2009) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Junior Seau

Induction:
2009
Class:
1989

Junior Seau was one of the most exciting and dominant linebackers in USC—and pro football—history. The 2-year (1988-89) letterman earned All-American first team and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year laurels in 1989. USC went 19-4-1 in his career and appeared in 2 Rose Bowls. He made 107 tackles as a Trojan, including 33 for a loss (with 27 of those coming in 1989). He helped popularize the No. 55 jersey now often worn by USC’s top linebacker. In 2016, he was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team. Forgoing his senior season at USC, he was the fifth pick of the 1990 NFL draft and played 20 years with the Chargers, Dolphins and Patriots. He played in 12 Pro Bowls and appeared in Super Bowls XXIX and XLII. He was the NFL Man of the Year in 1994. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015 and is in the Chargers Hall of Fame and the San Diego Hall of Champions Breitbard Hall of Fame. He created the Junior Seau Foundation to empower youth. He became a restaurant owner and had a clothing line. He died on May 2, 2012, at age 43.