Family of Brandon Pili react to son going to Seahawks
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The Seattle Seahawks have claimed Brandon Pili off of waivers, the team announced Monday.
The Alaskan defensive tackle was released by the Miami Dolphins Saturday before signing two days later with the franchise closest in proximity to his home state of Alaska.
“It’s just a big blessing to have him closer to home and I know there’s a bunch of people in Alaska who are Seahawks fans so pretty exciting time for everybody,” Heather Pili, Brandon’s mother, said.
“We are going to be able to see him a lot more often and catch more games because it is kind of hard to travel all the way across the country with six kids tagging behind you,” she added with a laugh.
Pili, 25, appeared in 12 games — including eight this year — in two seasons with the Dolphins, recording four tackles on the defensive line.
A former Dimond High School standout, Pili was an all-conference wrestler, track and field athlete, and of course, football player, and went on to become the University of Southern California’s first-ever football letterman from Alaska, playing 52 games for the Trojans.
Undrafted in 2023, Pili made Miami’s final 53-man roster to become the 14th Alaskan to play in the NFL.
Pili had been waived by the Dolphins once before. But unlike last year, when he decided to settle for a spot on Miami’s practice squad, another team showed immediate interest in Pili, claiming the Alaskan off of waivers two days after his release.
”He was kind of bummed that they waived him, but this business is just crazy, it is never promised unless you sign that big deal,” Billy Pili, Brandon’s father, said. “He’s been good about it and now going to Seattle, which is closer to home which he likes, too. He said it’s a new start for him, so he’s excited to get started and see what this team has.”
Alaska Sports Hall of Famer Reggie Tongue, of Fairbanks and Lathrop High fame, played defensive back for the Seattle Seahawks from 2000-2003.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 319 pounds, Pili is listed as Seattle’s second-string nose tackle. He is expected to practice this week if he clears a physical.
”Last year when he first went into the NFL, me and him just talked about it, reminiscing about just that little ol’ boy that played Boys and Girls Club, just little old bub, and it was just surreal for him to actually live his dream.”
Pili joins Seattle (4-5) ahead of a big Week 11 matchup Sunday against NFC West rival San Francisco (5-5). Despite being in last place in their division, the Seahawks are just 1.5 games out of first place.
“I think it’s us, his family,” Billy said of what motivates Brandon. “I always tell them, ‘Just remember your ‘why,’ what you’re doing this for, who you doing it for.’ ... He’s just motivated by his family, just to get a better life for us and himself ... He’s got his ‘why.’”
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