{{Short description|American football player (born 1987)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Isaako Aaitui | number = 97 | position = Nose tackle | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|01|25}} | birth_place = Pago Pago, American Samoa | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lbs = 307 | high_school = Faga'itua {{nowrap|(Pago Pago, American Samoa)}} | college = UNLV (2006–2010) | undraftedyear = 2011 | pastteams = * Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2011|2012}})* * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2012}})* * New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2013}})* * Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2013}}) * Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})* * Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2015}})* | highlights = *Third-team All-Mountain West (2010) | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 3 | pfr = A/AaitIs00 }}
'''Isaako Aaitui''' (born January 25, 1987) is a former American football nose tackle. He was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at UNLV.
==Early years== Aaitui attended Faga'itua High School in Pago Pago, where he played rugby, volleyball and soccer in addition to football prior to graduating in 2006.<ref name="UNLVBio">{{Cite web |title=Player Bio: Isaako Aaitui |url=http://www.unlvrebels.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/aaitui_isaako00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206015634/http://www.unlvrebels.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/aaitui_isaako00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2010 |access-date=November 17, 2013 |website=UNLVRebels.com }}</ref> Aaitui's high school football coach originally intended him to kick and punt because of his rugby background, but decided to try him at defensive end due to his size, and kept him there after he recorded five sacks in his first game.<ref name="reviewjournal">{{Cite web |title=Q&A with Rebel's Isaako Aaitui |url=http://www.unlvrebels.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/aaitui_isaako00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206015634/http://www.unlvrebels.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/aaitui_isaako00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2010 |access-date=February 27, 2025 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal }}</ref>
==College career== Aaitui was recruited by UNLV despite speaking little English and having much less football experience than his teammates, and not having heard of the city of Las Vegas before arriving for his recruiting trip.<ref name="reviewjournal" /> After redshirting at UNLV in 2006, Aaitui made his Rebels debut in 2007, appearing in seven games and recording 10 tackles (two for a loss).<ref name="UNLVBio" /> He started nine of 12 games played as a sophomore in 2008, totaling 32 tackles (14 solo), leading the team with seven tackles for a loss and tying for the team lead with two sacks.<ref name="UNLVBio" />
Aaitui started 10 of 12 games at defensive tackle as a junior in 2009, recording 31 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss.<ref name="UNLVBio" /> He closed out his collegiate career with 27 tackles (5 for a loss), 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick,<ref name="UNLVBio" /> earning third-team All-Mountain West Conference honors.<ref name="Saints">{{Cite web |title=New Orleans Saints Agree To Terms With DT Isaako Aaitui |url=http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/New-Orleans-Saints-Agree-To-Terms-With-DT-Isaako-Aaitui/155a78ec-3b5f-410f-b886-f41588c7c650 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607050152/http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/New-Orleans-Saints-Agree-To-Terms-With-DT-Isaako-Aaitui/155a78ec-3b5f-410f-b886-f41588c7c650 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=November 17, 2013 |website=NewOrleansSaints.com }}</ref>
==Professional career==
===Miami Dolphins=== After going undrafted in the 2011 NFL draft, Aaitui did not attend training camp and did not sign with a team until joining the practice squad of the Miami Dolphins on October 5, 2011.<ref name="PracticeSquad">{{Cite web |title=Dolphins sign OT Will Barker away from Buccaneers; make practice squad moves |url=http://www.phins-spotlight.com/2011/10/dolphins-sign-ot-will-barker-away-from.html |access-date=November 17, 2013 |website=Phins-Spotlight.com}}</ref> He remained on the practice squad the rest of his rookie season and was re-signed to a future contract in January 2012.<ref name="FutureDeal">{{Cite web |title=Dolphins re-sign seven to future contracts |url=http://www.phins-spotlight.com/2012/01/dolphins-sign-seven-to-future-contracts.html |access-date=November 17, 2013 |website=Phins-Spotlight.com}}</ref>
Aaitui's attempt to make the Dolphins' roster in 2012 was documented on the HBO series ''Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Miami Dolphins''.<ref name="HardKnocks">{{Cite web |last=Rosenthal |first=Gregg |date=September 5, 2012 |title=Hard Knocks' Isaako Aaitui waived by Jets after injury |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/hard-knocks-isaako-aaitui-waived-by-jets-after-injury-0ap1000000058465 |access-date=November 17, 2013 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> He came up just short of earning a roster spot and was waived by the team during final cuts, with the organization hoping to retain him on the practice squad.<ref name="HardKnocks" />
===New York Jets=== After being waived by the Dolphins, Aaitui made his first NFL roster when he was claimed by the New York Jets on September 2.<ref name="HardKnocks" /> However, he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his first practice with the Jets and was subsequently waived two days later.<ref name="HardKnocks" />
===New Orleans Saints=== After spending the 2012 season out of football with a knee injury, Aaitui signed a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints in May 2013.<ref name="Saints" /> However, he was once again waived during final cuts on August 31.<ref name="SaintsWaived">{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2013 |title=Saints Roster Cuts 2013: Saints Waive Isaako Aaitui |url=http://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2013/8/31/4680182/saints-roster-cuts-2013-isaako-aaitui |access-date=November 17, 2013 |website=CanalStreetChronicles.com}}</ref>
===Miami Dolphins (second stint)=== Aaitui was re-signed by the Dolphins on September 17, 2013, to provide depth at the defensive tackle position due to an injury to Paul Soliai.<ref name="v582">{{cite web | last=Kelly | first=Omar | title=Two defensive starters for Dolphins sit out Tuesday's practice | website=Sun Sentinel | date=2013-09-17 | url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2013/09/17/two-defensive-starters-for-dolphins-sit-out-tuesdays-practice/ | access-date=2025-02-02}}</ref> He was promoted to the active roster on October 19 after the release of Marvin Austin.<ref name="DolphinsPromotion">{{Cite web |title=Dolphins promote DT Isaako Aaitui to the 53-man roster |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/dolphins-blog/sfl-dolphins-promote-dt-isaako-aaitui-to-the-53man-roster-20131019,0,3339645.story |access-date=November 17, 2013 |website=The Sun Sentinel |archive-date=November 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102014413/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/dolphins-blog/sfl-dolphins-promote-dt-isaako-aaitui-to-the-53man-roster-20131019,0,3339645.story |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="x658">{{cite web | title=Dolphins promote Isaako Aaitui from practice squad | website=NBC Sports | date=2013-10-19 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/dolphins-promote-isaako-aaitui-from-practice-squad | access-date=2025-01-04}}</ref> Aaitui made his NFL debut the following day, participating in 19 defensive snaps in the team's home loss to the Buffalo Bills.<ref name="NFLDebut">{{Cite web |last=Nogle |first=Kevin |date=October 23, 2013 |title=Bills vs Dolphins final look: Miami defensive snap counts |url=http://www.thephinsider.com/2013/10/23/4947176/bills-vs-dolphins-final-look-miami-defensive-snap-counts |access-date=November 17, 2013 |website=ThePhinsider.com}}</ref>
===Washington Redskins=== Aaitui signed with the Washington Redskins practice squad on December 16, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kring-Schreifels |first=Jake |title=More On New Redskin Isaako Aaitui |url=http://blog.redskins.com/2014/12/16/more-on-new-redskin-isaako-aaitui/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313031749/http://blog.redskins.com/2014/12/16/more-on-new-redskin-isaako-aaitui/ |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |access-date=December 19, 2014 |website=Redskins.com}}</ref> He signed a futures contract on December 29.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Mike |date=December 29, 2014 |title=Redskins sign eight players to futures contracts |work=WashingtonPost.com |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/12/29/redskins-sign-eight-players-to-futures-contracts/ |access-date=December 29, 2014}}</ref>
On May 4, 2015, he was waived by the Redskins.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keim |first=John |date=May 4, 2015 |title=Redskins cut 13 players, start adding UDFAs |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/washington-commanders/post/_/id/17202/redskins-cut-13-players-start-adding-udfas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505013315/http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-redskins/post/_/id/17202/redskins-cut-13-players-start-adding-udfas |archive-date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=May 4, 2015 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[https://unlvrebels.com/sports/football/roster/isaako-aaitui/5937 UNLV Rebels bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aaitui, Isaako}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:American football defensive tackles Category:American people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Miami Dolphins players Category:New Orleans Saints players Category:New York Jets players Category:Sportspeople from Pago Pago, American Samoa Category:Players of American football from American Samoa Category:Tennessee Titans players Category:UNLV Rebels football players Category:Washington Redskins players