PROFESSIONAL FOOTBAL CAREER
Junior Seau is considered by many as one of the best linebackers in NFL history. He played 13 years with the San Diego Chargers and 3 years with the Miami Dolphins. As a Charger, Seau was
elected to 12 consecutive Pro Bowl appearances. After one day of retirement in 2006, Junior answered a call by the New England Patriots and returned to the NFL as number 55 on the Patriots team. 2009 marked Seau’s 20th consecutive season. He was the defensive co-captain for the Patriots in 2007 during their 18-0 run to perfection.
In 1990, Junior was the Chargers’ top pick and the fifth player selected overall in the NFL Draft. He was the team leader and the heart of the Chargers’ defense from 1990-2002. He was voted the Chargers’ Most Inspirational Player in 1997 and 2002, and was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year twice (1998-99).
In 2009 Seau was selected for the All-Time Greatest Chargers Team during the team’s 50th Anniversary Season. Junior was named to the Chargers 40th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2000; the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-Decade Team for the ’90s, and the NFL Alumni Association’s Linebacker of the Year. He was selected as the True Value NFL Man of the Year in 1994 and led the Chargers to Super Bowl XXIX.
He was named the AFC Co-Defensive Player of the Month for September 2002, has been a first-team All-Pro pick by the Associated Press six times during his career, and was a second-team selection on two occasions. He received the Miami Dolphins Don Shula Leadership Award for 2 consecutive years. Seau was inducted into the USC Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2010, Junior was named one of the top 50 High School athletes in San Diego for the past 50 years by a panel of the California Interscholastic Federation’s San Diego Section.
HONORS
As great a player as Seau is on the field, he is equally amazing off the field. He is a loving father, an astute businessman and a community leader. President Bush awarded Junior the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2005. Honors bestowed upon Junior for his endeavors include:
• San Diego Hall of Champions Professional Star of the Year (1992)
• NFL United Way representative (San Diego Chargers: 1992 and 1999)
• True Value Hardware NFL Man of the Year (1994)
• National Boys and Girls Clubs Hall of Fame (1999)
• A Magazine: One of 100 most influential Asian Americans (1990’s)
• 2003 Spirit of San Diego Award from the San Diego Chamber of Commerce for community commitment and leadership.
• Sporting News Miami Dolphin Good Guy (2004)
• JB Award which recognizes NFL players for dedication to build better families and stronger communities (2005)
• Family Justice Center Heroes of Hope Honoree (2006)
• Community Partner of the Year by Center for Community Solutions (2007)
• Spokesman for the National Beer Wholesalers Association appearing on national PSA’s to curb underage drinking and stop illegal alcohol consumption among youth.
• John Lynch Foundation Honoree (2008)
• John Carney Foundation Honoree (2008)
• Honored as one of “San Diego Sports Legends” by the US Open Host Committee (2008)
• Spokesman for Stuff the Bus, a collaboration of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation, United Way and the Junior Seau Foundation: San Diego County wide effort to collect sporting goods for children in foster care.
THE JUNIOR SEAU FOUNDATION – www: JuniorSeau.org
From its inception, The Junior Seau Foundation has given San Diego–area youth ongoing support. Established in 1992, the Junior Seau Foundation has raised money and resources for programs that inspire young people to face life’s challenges with enthusiasm, hope and dignity.
In the past ten 10 Years, the Foundation has allocated over $4 million to organizations providing services to children and young adults. (includes annual funding of an endowment) and the Foundation was ranked the 13th largest Professional Athlete Foundation (based on assets) by the Wall Street Journal, April 28, 2007.
SEAU’S THE RESTAURANT –
Seau opened SEAU’S the Restaurant in San Diego in July 1996, and it quickly became San Diego’s premier sports-themed restaurant. Junior Seau is the single owner and Managing Member of Seau’s of San Diego, LLC.
Seau’s the Restaurant has been voted 1st place in the Best of San Diego Reader’s Poll from 2002-2009. Seau’s was also recognized by ABC/Channel 10 as the most popular Sports Bar in San Diego. SEAU’S is closed to the public on Thanksgiving Day to serve over 700 beneficiaries of non-profit agencies and military families. Seau’s the Restaurant is well known for events such as the Legends Party, the Annual Anniversary Luau, and a Cinco de Mayo party.
Sports Jobs with Junior Seau – Versus.com
Sports Jobs made its debut on the Versus channel in December 2009. Junior takes on the most fascinating jobs in sports as he takes viewers behind the scenes to learn what it takes to support professional athletes and teams. In the series Junior portrays a variety of supportive roles including a rodeo clown, a bat boy, an NHL equipment man, a Sports Illustrated report and a member of the Indy Pit Crew.
PERSONAL
The 5th of 6 children, Junior was born Tiaina Baul Seau, Jr., on January 19, 1969, in San Diego, California. He attended Oceanside High School where he lettered in football, basketball, and track. Parade magazine named him to its High School All-American team simply as an athlete – refusing to specify a particular sport. In 2010, Junior was inducted into the Oceanside High School Hall of Fame. Upon graduation, Junior accepted a football scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he was named unanimous first-team All-American. Junior is a divorced father of 4 children.
