Jesse Sapolu: NFL opportunities must come with Pacific culture, communities

Four-time Super Bowl champion Seiuli Jesse Sapolu wants to see more Pacific young people find a pathway into the National Football League (NFL) in the United States.

But he says success overseas should never mean losing touch with where they come from.

The Sāmoan-born San Francisco 49ers great says the NFL’s growing presence in the Pacific is creating opportunities that were almost unthinkable when he was coming through.

Speaking with Pacific Huddle host Tuilagi William Leolahi, Sapolu said the 49ers opening their season in Australia showed how far the sport had travelled in the region.

“It means a whole lot. You know, I've been coming over for over 30 years, even when I was a player, to try to get some traction as far as the NFL and the National Football League.”

The game has also given Sapolu a chance to see the next generation of Pacific talent up close.

Pacific athletes are making an increasing mark on American football as the NFL looks to grow the sport across the region. Photo/New Zealand American Football Federation

He said he recently watched his son, who is a coach, try out a young athlete with Māori and Pacific heritage.

“It was just going through my mind how far we've come. These are exciting times. And all it is, is added opportunities for our kids to play on the other side of the globe.”

That opportunity was on show in Melbourne last Friday with the 49ers and Los Angeles Rams making history in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia. The 49ers won 27-7.

The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams made history in Melbourne with the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia. Photo/AAP/Photosport/Joel Carrett

The same opportunity is being recognised by players on the field in Melbourne.

Rams star Puka Nacua, who has Sāmoan heritage, said the historic game could help Pacific children see a pathway into a sport that is still relatively new in the region.

“For kids from the Pacific Islands and from areas that don’t play American football, to have the opportunity to see that … (can help them) chase new levels,” he told journalists.

Nacua said access to the sport remained limited for many Pacific young people particularly because of the physical demands of American football.

“The opportunities are very limited, and there are few chances to continue to be able to play this game, given how physically demanding it is.”

He also sees a natural connection between the sport and Pacific culture.

Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua says the NFL’s growing presence in the Pacific could help create new opportunities for the next generation. Photo/nfl.com

“The game is growing. I know that the rules and the values that have been a part of this game of football are closely aligned to those of the Polynesian culture,” Nacua said.

Sapolu believes New Zealand is already on the NFL’s radar, with Pacific athletes among the prospects who could help grow the game.

He pointed to a New Zealand athlete he identified two years ago who had never played American football and is now regarded as one of the top prospects in his class.

“There's no question that as far as Pacific Islanders, New Zealand has just as many prospects as we have here in Australia.”

He says flag football could be one of the biggest entry points for Pacific communities.

He says it can bring more girls into the sport and give young people a way to learn the game without the physical demands of tackle football.

Seiuli Jesse Sapolu wants Pacific athletes chasing NFL opportunities overseas to stay connected to their language, culture and communities. Photo/NZAFF

“It's a great way for some of the kids that are not physically strong enough to play tackle football to learn the American game and learn the rules.”

He also wants Pacific nations such as Sāmoa to build their own programmes, with the 2028 Olympics providing another reason to speed up development.

But while Sapolu wants to see more Pacific athletes succeed in American football, he says the bigger challenge is making sure they remain connected to their identity.

“I think our country can move forward and be stronger because of it.”

Sapolu says young athletes should learn their Pacific languages alongside their sport and understand the meaning behind their cultural traditions.

“If you really understand the honour of having that Sāmoan honour on you, you need to speak the language.”

Watch Seiuli Jesse Sapolu's full interview below.

He says that connection becomes even more important as Pacific athletes find financial success overseas.

“That's part of my next goal is to connect our language to the success that they have because I think it makes them appreciate who they are as Sāmoans.”

Sapolu says successful Pacific athletes also have a responsibility to return home and help open the same doors for the next generation.

“I still love my people. I still love my country and I just want to come out and do my part in making sure that those kids have the same opportunities that I had coming up.”

Sapolu says the NFL’s expansion into the Pacific is about more than finding the next superstar.

He says it is about building pathways that allow young people to chase opportunities overseas while still knowing exactly where they come from. “And it's up to us not to let it go and just make sure that our kids remember who they are and they can hang on to that.”

For more details on the 49ers vs Rams game, click here.