The list of University of Hawaii football alumni to have appeared in a Super Bowl is not extensive. But among that select group, ex-Rainbow Warriors have fared well when it comes to winning the big game.
New England Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who played at UH from 2015 to 2018, will attempt to join that group in Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.
“So excited for him,” UH coach Timmy Chang said this week. “In the four years that I’ve been here, every offseason, I see him here training, training on the field, training in the weight room, spending time here. And in those four seasons, the ball didn’t bounce his way as it as it did this way. And extremely proud and excited for him, and I will be rooting him on.”
Of the 13 former UH players to have been on a Super Bowl roster at least once, 11 have won it, with former standout lineman Jesse Sapolu doing so four times with the San Francisco 49ers.
Wide receiver Marcus Kemp was the most recent, having won with the Kansas City Chiefs in both of his appearances in 2020 and 2023.
Tavai was the No. 43 overall pick in 2019 by the Detroit Lions and played two seasons for them. He joined the Patriots’ practice squad in 2021, then was signed to the 53-man roster at midseason. He has started 51 of the 76 games he appeared in for the decorated franchise.
This season, he has 42 tackles, including four for loss, with a forced fumble. But the former All-Mountain West honoree also dealt with personal tragedy this year. He and his wife Kalei Mau mourned the death of their unborn daughter in November when Mau was afflicted with a blood infection.
In January, Tavai was bestowed the Patriots’ Ed Block Courage Award.
“Jahlani Tavai epitomizes courage,” said Jim Whalen, Patriots vice president of sports medicine and performance/head athletic trainer, in a Patriots release. “Jahlani had an offseason hampered with soft tissue injuries and missed quite a bit of time during training camp. During his recovery, he developed an extremely rare autoimmune disease which required multiple physicians’ visits with numerous specialists and a rigorous regimen of daily and weekly medications with various side effects.
“Throughout his entire recovery, Jahlani remained upbeat and worked hard every day. Eventually, he worked his way back into the lineup and was an integral part of the team’s success. It is with great pride and admiration that we honor Jahlani with this award.”
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.