Joe Salave'a

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Joe Salave'a
Date of birth March 23, 1975 (age 32)
Place of birth Flag of American Samoa Leone, American Samoa
Position(s) Defensive Tackle
College Arizona
NFL Draft 1998 / Round 4/ Pick 107
Statistics
Team(s)
1998
1999-2002
2003
2004-current
Tennessee Oilers
Tennessee Titans
San Diego Chargers
Washington Redskins

Joe Fagaone 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 playoff 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.