University Southern California Trojans
Former USC Linebacker Rey Maualuga Named to Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
December 09, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES--Â Former USC linebacker Rey Maualuga has been named to the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.Â
He is the seventh Trojan to be inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, joining linebacker Lofa Tatupu (2019), linebacker Riki Ellison (2017), safety Troy Polamalu (2016), offensive lineman Charley Ane (2016), fullback Mosi Tatupu (2015) and linebacker Junior Seau (2014).Â
Joining Maualuga as 2026 inductees are Chad Owens, former Hawaii wide receiver and CFL player, and Brandon Manumaleuna, a unanimous All-American tight end out of Arizona who had a 10-year NFL career.
A unanimous First Team All-American and USC's only Bednarik Award winner, Maualuga had an incredible USC career. A letterman from 2005-08, USC was 46-6 in his career. USC finished second in the final AP poll in 2005, fourth in 2006 and third in both 2007 and 2008. Maualuga played in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Rose Bowls, and he was named the Defensive MVP in the 2008 game. In addition to winning the 2008 Bednarik Award, he was named CBSSports.com's National Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a 2008 finalist for the Butkus Award, Lombardi Award and Nagurski Trophy. Prior to the 2008 season, he was selected as a 2008 Playboy Pre-Season All-American. Maualuga earned All-Pac-10 Conference First Team honors in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and won Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. He was USC's 2008 MVP and won USC's John McKay Award in 2005, presented to the underclassman with the most competitive spirit. He was a Freshman All-American in 2005 and Sophomore All-American in 2006.Â
Maualuga decorated his stat sheet with 273 career tackles, including a team-high 79 in 2008, 79 in 2007 (10.5 for losses), 78 in 2006 and 37 in 2005. He competed in the 2009 Senior Bowl. He was drafted in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and played for the Bengals (2009-16) and Dolphins (2017).Â
The inductees were selected from a field of over 100 nominees and eight finalists by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, comprised of Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee), Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, Inaugural Inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former NFL player and Class of 2015 Inductee Ray Schoenke, sportscaster Neil Everett, NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche and former NFL Player and Class of 2023 Inductee Manti Te'o. In addition to the selection committee, all living Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Inductees cast votes to select the Class.
The Class of 2026 will be formally enshrined during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend, Jan. 16–18, 2026. Events will include the Polynesian Bowl, the Enshrinement Ceremony and the Celebration Dinner.
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He is the seventh Trojan to be inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, joining linebacker Lofa Tatupu (2019), linebacker Riki Ellison (2017), safety Troy Polamalu (2016), offensive lineman Charley Ane (2016), fullback Mosi Tatupu (2015) and linebacker Junior Seau (2014).Â
Joining Maualuga as 2026 inductees are Chad Owens, former Hawaii wide receiver and CFL player, and Brandon Manumaleuna, a unanimous All-American tight end out of Arizona who had a 10-year NFL career.
A unanimous First Team All-American and USC's only Bednarik Award winner, Maualuga had an incredible USC career. A letterman from 2005-08, USC was 46-6 in his career. USC finished second in the final AP poll in 2005, fourth in 2006 and third in both 2007 and 2008. Maualuga played in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Rose Bowls, and he was named the Defensive MVP in the 2008 game. In addition to winning the 2008 Bednarik Award, he was named CBSSports.com's National Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a 2008 finalist for the Butkus Award, Lombardi Award and Nagurski Trophy. Prior to the 2008 season, he was selected as a 2008 Playboy Pre-Season All-American. Maualuga earned All-Pac-10 Conference First Team honors in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and won Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. He was USC's 2008 MVP and won USC's John McKay Award in 2005, presented to the underclassman with the most competitive spirit. He was a Freshman All-American in 2005 and Sophomore All-American in 2006.Â
Maualuga decorated his stat sheet with 273 career tackles, including a team-high 79 in 2008, 79 in 2007 (10.5 for losses), 78 in 2006 and 37 in 2005. He competed in the 2009 Senior Bowl. He was drafted in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and played for the Bengals (2009-16) and Dolphins (2017).Â
The inductees were selected from a field of over 100 nominees and eight finalists by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, comprised of Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee), Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, Inaugural Inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former NFL player and Class of 2015 Inductee Ray Schoenke, sportscaster Neil Everett, NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche and former NFL Player and Class of 2023 Inductee Manti Te'o. In addition to the selection committee, all living Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Inductees cast votes to select the Class.
The Class of 2026 will be formally enshrined during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend, Jan. 16–18, 2026. Events will include the Polynesian Bowl, the Enshrinement Ceremony and the Celebration Dinner.
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