{{Short description|American football player (born 1983)}} {{Use American English|date=June 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Paul Soliai | image = Paul Soliai 2014 (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Soliai in 2014 | number = 96, 90 | position = Defensive tackle | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|12|30|mf=y}} | birth_place = Santa Ana, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lbs = 345 | high_school = Nuuuli Poly Tech {{nowrap|(Pago Pago, American Samoa)}} | college = Coffeyville (2002–2003)<br />Utah (2004–2006) | draftyear = 2007 | draftround = 4 | draftpick = 108 | pastteams = * Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2007}}–{{NFL Year|2013}}) * Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}}) * Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2016}}) | status = | highlights = * Pro Bowl (2011) * Second-team All-MW (2006) | statweek = | statseason = | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 221 | statlabel2 = Sacks | statvalue2 = 5.5 | statlabel3 = Forced fumbles | statvalue3 = 2 | statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue4 = 4 | pfr = SoliPa99 }}
'''Paul Fuapapa Soliai''' (born December 30, 1983) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers.
==Early life== Soliai, of Samoan descent, attended Rancho Alamitos High School in Garden Grove, California, before moving to American Samoa for his senior year, where he attended Nu'uuli Technical High School in Pago Pago and was the team captain.
==College career==
===Junior college=== Soliai spend two seasons at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas. He was a two-time All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference offensive lineman. He earned an honorable mention All-American selection in 2002, and was a First-team junior college All-American as a sophomore in 2003.
Considered a four-star recruit out of junior college by ''Rivals.com'', Soliai was listed as the No. 32 non-high school player in the nation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2004 |title=Non High School Players 2004 |url=https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=694 |website=Rivals.com}}</ref>
===Utah=== Soliai transferred to the University of Utah in 2004 and was redshirted his first season with the Utes. He played in 12 games as a junior in 2005, with up five tackles, 1.5 of which were for a loss. He made four stops against rival Utah State, including an assisted tackle for a loss. He also had a 10-yard sack against Arizona.
In 12 games at nose guard as a senior in 2006, Soliai recorded 35 tackles (13 solo), 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks for 15 yards, four pass break-ups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. He earned a Second-team All-Mountain West Conference selection.
==Professional career==
===Pre-draft=== In April 2007, Soliai measured a height of 6-feet-4 and a weight of 332 pounds at his Utah Pro Day. He ran the 40-yard dash in 5.02 seconds and 5.12 seconds, the short shuttle in 4.53 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.77 seconds. He measured a 30½-inch vertical jump, but an elbow sprain prevented him from doing the 225-pound bench press.
Prior to the draft, Soliai was praised for his rare size, strength, quickness and athleticism, while also being criticized for his lack of technique and moves.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Paul Soliai Profile |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2007/draft/players/9285.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513175259/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2007/draft/players/9285.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 13, 2007 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul Soliai Profile |url=http://warroom.sportingnews.com/nfl/draft/2007/players/7285.html |website=Sporting News}}</ref>
{{nfl predraft |height ft=6 |height in=4 |weight=344 |dash=5.02 |ten split=1.63 |twenty split=2.86 |shuttle=4.53 |cone drill=7.66 |vertical=30½ |broad ft=9 |broad in=7 |bench= |wonderlic=9 |arm span= |hand span= |note=All values from NFL Combine, except for 40-yd dash (and splits), 20-ss, and vertical, which are from Utah Pro Day }}
===Miami Dolphins=== Soliai was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2007 NFL draft, signing a four-year contract on June 7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/draft.htm |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Before the NFL lockout, Soliai was franchise tagged by the Dolphins. They gave him a one-year guaranteed salary of at least $12 million, which was the average of the top 5 salaries at that position. This was made bloated by Albert Haynesworth's record-breaking $100 million contract from the Redskins.
On January 24, 2012, Soliai was added to the AFC Pro Bowl Roster to replace Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paul Soliai added to AFC Pro Bowl squad |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fl-xpm-2012-01-24-sfl-paul-soliai-miami-dolphins-pro-bowl-20120124-story.html |publisher=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |date=24 January 2012 |access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref>
On March 14, 2012, Soliai signed a 2-year extension with Miami worth $12 million, with $6 million guaranteed for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
===Atlanta Falcons=== thumb|right|Soliai with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014 On March 11, 2014, Soliai agreed to terms with the Atlanta Falcons on a five-year, $33 million contract including $14 million guaranteed. In a week 8 game against the Detroit Lions at Wembley Stadium in London, Soliai was called for a holding penalty against Lions center Dominic Raiola. This penalty set up kicker Matt Prater for a game-winning 47 yard field goal, which he made, handing the Falcons a 22–21 loss and dropping them to a 2–5 record.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/10591086/atlanta-falcons-add-paul-soliai-tyson-jackson-jon-asamoah-cut-thomas-decoud Paul Soliai signs 5-year, $33M deal]</ref> On December 29, 2015 Soliai was placed on injured reserve ending his season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul Soliai heads to injured reserve |date=December 29, 2015 |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/12/29/paul-soliai-heads-to-injured-reserve/ |access-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref>
On March 9, 2016, the Atlanta Falcons cut Soliai.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Falcons cut Paul Soliai with a post-June 1 designation |date=March 9, 2016 |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/03/09/falcons-cut-paul-soliai-with-a-post-june-1-designation/ |access-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref>
===Carolina Panthers=== Soliai signed with the Carolina Panthers on March 14, 2016.<ref>[http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-Sign-DT-Paul-Soliai/490ac291-8561-42b3-9b1d-5bc282c44759 Panthers Sign DT Paul Soliai]</ref>
On February 21, 2017, Soliai was released by the Panthers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strickland, Bryan |date=February 21, 2017 |title=Panthers release Paul Soliai |url=http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-release-Paul-Soliai/e3d9f652-3f75-400d-8735-2992f658424a |website=Panthers.com}}</ref>
===Retirement=== On April 19, 2018, Soliai signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Dolphins.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2018 |title=Six Former Players Sign One Day Contracts |url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Six-Former-Players-Sign-One-Day-Contracts-/3ea12497-2052-442a-bdc9-2370fe126a34 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001853/http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Six-Former-Players-Sign-One-Day-Contracts-/3ea12497-2052-442a-bdc9-2370fe126a34 |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |access-date=April 19, 2018 |website=MiamiDolphins.com}}</ref>
==NFL career statistics== {| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" ! colspan="2"| Legend |- | '''Bold''' | Career high |}
===Regular season=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !rowspan="2"| Year !rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD |- ! 2007 !! MIA | 8 || 0 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2008 !! MIA | 14 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2009 !! MIA | 14 || 5 || 25 || 22 || 3 || 0.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2010 !! MIA | '''16''' || 14 || '''39''' || '''33''' || 6 || '''2.0''' || '''8''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 |- ! 2011 !! MIA | '''16''' || 12 || 27 || 19 || 8 || 0.0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2012 !! MIA | '''16''' || '''16''' || 29 || 18 || 11 || 1.5 || '''8''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 |- ! 2013 !! MIA | 15 || 15 || 34 || 19 || '''15''' || 1.0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''5''' || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2014 !! ATL | 15 || 14 || 30 || 20 || 10 || 1.0 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2015 !! ATL | 14 || 10 || 22 || 17 || 5 || 0.0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 |- ! 2016 !! CAR | 10 || 1 || 8 || 4 || 4 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"| !! 138 !! 87 !! 221 !! 159 !! 62 !! 5.5 !! 35 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 12 !! 2 !! 4 !! 0 !! 0 |}
===Playoffs=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !rowspan="2"| Year !rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD |- ! 2008 !! MIA | '''1''' || 0 || '''1''' || '''1''' || 0 || 0.0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"| !! 1 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 0 !! 0.0 !! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://www.panthers.com/team/roster/Paul-Soliai/032d16d2-3613-4d41-840f-e12bd204513e Carolina Panthers bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318121632/http://www.panthers.com/team/roster/Paul-Soliai/032d16d2-3613-4d41-840f-e12bd204513e |date=March 18, 2016 }} *[http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/roster/Paul-Soliai/0ae9e272-fc50-4649-91f5-bcfd101964a0 Atlanta Falcons bio] *[http://www.miamidolphins.com/team/roster/Paul-Soliai/0951ead5-b21d-4edb-9e4f-bd2f3f20bbb2 Miami Dolphins bio] *[http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/soliai_paul00.html Utah Utes bio]
{{Dolphins2007DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Soliai, Paul}} Category:1983 births Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players Category:American football defensive tackles Category:American people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople from Pago Pago, American Samoa Category:Atlanta Falcons players Category:Carolina Panthers players Category:Coffeyville Red Ravens football players Category:Living people Category:Miami Dolphins players Category:Players of American football from Santa Ana, California Category:Utah Utes football players Category:Players of American football from American Samoa