Joe Salave'a

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Joe Salave'a
Date of birth March 23, 1975
Place of birth Leone, American Samoa
Position(s) Defensive Tackle
College University of Arizona
Team(s)
1998
1999-2002
2003
2004-current
Tennessee Oilers
Tennessee Titans
San Diego Chargers
Washington Redskins

Joe Salave'a (born March 23, 1975 in Leone, American Samoa) is a National Football League defensive lineman for the Washington Redskins. Standing 6'3" and 317 pounds, he primarily plays defensive tackle.

Salave'a moved to Oceanside, CA near San Diego, in 1989, and graduated from Oceanside High School. He went to University of Arizona and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 1998 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with Tennessee and one with the San Diego Chargers, before being signed by the Washington Redskins. Playing primarily as a backup, Salave'a had a break-through year in 2004, registering 30 tackles and two sacks for the second-ranked Redskins defense. In 2005, he started 13 games and had 50 tackles, a half-sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, helping to lead the Redskins to their first play-off appearance of the decade. Salave'a's older brother Okland Salave'a played football at Colorado from 1987-1989. Salave'a also has his own foundation--the Joe Salave'a Foundation.