Marques Tuiasosopo
Encyclopedia
Marques Tavita Tuiasosopo (born March 22, 1979) is a former American football
quarterback
who is currently a strength coach for the University of Washington
football team. He was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft
by the Oakland Raiders
. He played college football
at Washington
.
He has also been a member of the New York Jets
.
, a suburb northeast of Seattle
. An excellent athlete, he was also a standout shortstop in baseball
at Woodinville High School
. After his senior year, Tuiasosopo was drafted in the 28th round of the 1997 MLB
Draft by the Minnesota Twins
, but chose to play college football
instead. Because he played on both offense & defense in high school (option quarterback & safety), he was primarily recruited by Division I football programs to play defense.
Marques accepted a football scholarship to the University of Washington
in Seattle, primarily because Jim Lambright
was one of the few head coaches that would grant him the opportunity to compete at quarterback, rather than just at safety.
In September 1997, months out of high school, he was called into action in a nationally-televised home game against Nebraska, due to an injury to starter Brock Huard
. Despite losing 27-14, Tuiasosopo was impressive against the sixth-ranked (and eventual national-champion) Cornhuskers, throwing for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Later in the year against Oregon
, he became the Huskies' first true freshman to start a game at quarterback, throwing for 261 yards and rushing for 95, in a 31-28 loss. He also played considerably the following year for the oft-injured Huard, and never did use his redshirt season. Following the 1998 season, Rick Neuheisel
replaced Lambright as head coach, and named Marques as the starting quarterback to replace the graduating Huard. As a junior in October 1999, Tuiasosopo became the only player in NCAA
college football
history to pass for over 300 yards and run for over 200 yards in a game, during a 35-30 victory over the Stanford
Cardinal at Husky Stadium
. That year he led the Huskies to a 6-2 conference record, finishing in second place to the Cardinal and earning the team a bid to the 1999 Holiday Bowl
.
As a senior in 2000, he led the Huskies to the Pac-10 title and a 34-24 Rose Bowl victory over the Purdue Boilermakers
, and was named the MVP of the game. The Huskies finished the season with an 11-1 record, ranked third in the national polls. The season included a victory over the Miami
Hurricanes at Husky Stadium
in September, the Hurricanes only loss of the season. Tuiasosopo threw for 225 yards and a touchdown and ran for 45 yards and another touchdown in the 34-29 win, earning national acclaim while finishing 8th in Heisman voting.
, the 59th overall pick and the fourth quarterback selected (behind Michael Vick
, Drew Brees
, & Quincy Carter
).
In the NFL, Tuiasosopo has primarily been a reserve quarterback, the Raiders' backup to Rich Gannon
and Kerry Collins
. He was on the sidelines for Super Bowl XXXVII
at the conclusion of the 2002 NFL season
, but did not appear in the game as his team lost 48-21. His first significant playing time came during a Monday Night Football
game during the 2003
season, throwing for 224 yards, all in the second half. Marques played well enough to earn his first career NFL start the following week, but struggled, throwing for just 65 yards along with an interception before leaving the game with an injury late in the first half. He did not start another game until late in the 2005
season, where he again struggled losing 26-10. He was promptly demoted back to the sidelines the next week. The team finished just 4-12 in the 2005 season with primarily Kerry Collins as the starting quarterback, paving the way for the younger Tuiasosopo to receive more consideration for the job.
on March 23, 2007.
. He accepted a similar position with UCLA where he will join his former Coach Rick Neuheisel.
, who played collegiately for UCLA, then professionally from 1979-86 for the Seahawks
and 49ers
. Marques' brother is fullback
Zach Tuiasosopo, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles
until he was waived on July 11, 2007. Zach and Marques were also teammates on the Raiders for part of a season. His youngest brother, Matt
, plays baseball professionally for the Seattle Mariners
. His sister Leslie played volleyball for Washington, trained with the US National Team, and is currently an assistant coach at the University of Washington. Marques is married; his wife is named Lisa. His uncle, Mike, is currently the defensive tackles coach at the University of Colorado.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who is currently a strength coach for the University of Washington
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
football team. He was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Washington
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
.
He has also been a member of the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Marques was raised in WoodinvilleWoodinville, Washington
Woodinville is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,938 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. There is also a much larger population with Woodinville mailing addresses in adjacent unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties...
, a suburb northeast of Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. An excellent athlete, he was also a standout shortstop in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
at Woodinville High School
Woodinville High School
Woodinville High School is a public secondary school located in Woodinville, Washington and is part of the Northshore School District.-Basic information:...
. After his senior year, Tuiasosopo was drafted in the 28th round of the 1997 MLB
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Draft by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, but chose to play college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
instead. Because he played on both offense & defense in high school (option quarterback & safety), he was primarily recruited by Division I football programs to play defense.
Marques accepted a football scholarship to the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle, primarily because Jim Lambright
Jim Lambright
James "Jim" Lambright is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Washington for six seasons from 1993 to 1998, compiling a record of 44–25–1...
was one of the few head coaches that would grant him the opportunity to compete at quarterback, rather than just at safety.
College career
While at Washington, Tuiasosopo majored in business administration.In September 1997, months out of high school, he was called into action in a nationally-televised home game against Nebraska, due to an injury to starter Brock Huard
Brock Huard
Brock Xavier Huard is a former American football quarterback in the NFL. Brock's brother, Damon, also played quarterback at the University of Washington and later played in the National Football League...
. Despite losing 27-14, Tuiasosopo was impressive against the sixth-ranked (and eventual national-champion) Cornhuskers, throwing for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Later in the year against Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, he became the Huskies' first true freshman to start a game at quarterback, throwing for 261 yards and rushing for 95, in a 31-28 loss. He also played considerably the following year for the oft-injured Huard, and never did use his redshirt season. Following the 1998 season, Rick Neuheisel
Rick Neuheisel
Richard Gerald "Rick" Neuheisel, Jr. , is an American football coach, former player, and attorney. He was most recently the head football coach at University of California, Los Angeles, a position he held from 2008 to 2011...
replaced Lambright as head coach, and named Marques as the starting quarterback to replace the graduating Huard. As a junior in October 1999, Tuiasosopo became the only player in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
history to pass for over 300 yards and run for over 200 yards in a game, during a 35-30 victory over the Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
Cardinal at Husky Stadium
Husky Stadium
Husky Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the home of the Washington Huskies...
. That year he led the Huskies to a 6-2 conference record, finishing in second place to the Cardinal and earning the team a bid to the 1999 Holiday Bowl
Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
.
As a senior in 2000, he led the Huskies to the Pac-10 title and a 34-24 Rose Bowl victory over the Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, and was named the MVP of the game. The Huskies finished the season with an 11-1 record, ranked third in the national polls. The season included a victory over the Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
Hurricanes at Husky Stadium
Husky Stadium
Husky Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the home of the Washington Huskies...
in September, the Hurricanes only loss of the season. Tuiasosopo threw for 225 yards and a touchdown and ran for 45 yards and another touchdown in the 34-29 win, earning national acclaim while finishing 8th in Heisman voting.
Oakland Raiders
Tuiasosopo was selected by the Raiders in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
, the 59th overall pick and the fourth quarterback selected (behind Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
, Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Drew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
, & Quincy Carter
Quincy Carter
Lavonya Quintelle "Quincy" Carter is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys...
).
In the NFL, Tuiasosopo has primarily been a reserve quarterback, the Raiders' backup to Rich Gannon
Rich Gannon
Richard Joseph Gannon is a former football quarterback, who achieved most of his success late in his career with the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League...
and Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
. He was on the sidelines for Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
at the conclusion of the 2002 NFL season
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
, but did not appear in the game as his team lost 48-21. His first significant playing time came during a Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game during the 2003
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
season, throwing for 224 yards, all in the second half. Marques played well enough to earn his first career NFL start the following week, but struggled, throwing for just 65 yards along with an interception before leaving the game with an injury late in the first half. He did not start another game until late in the 2005
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
season, where he again struggled losing 26-10. He was promptly demoted back to the sidelines the next week. The team finished just 4-12 in the 2005 season with primarily Kerry Collins as the starting quarterback, paving the way for the younger Tuiasosopo to receive more consideration for the job.
New York Jets
Tuiasosopo signed a one-year contract with the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on March 23, 2007.
Second stint with Raiders
A free agent in the 2008 offseason, Tuiasosopo re-signed with the Raiders on May 22, 2008, on a 1-year contract in his final NFL season.Post-football career
Tuiasosopo had been a strength coach for the football team at his alma mater, the University of WashingtonWashington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
. He accepted a similar position with UCLA where he will join his former Coach Rick Neuheisel.
Personal
Tuiasosopo is the son of former NFL defensive lineman Manu TuiasosopoManu Tuiasosopo
Manu'ula Asovalu Tuiasosopo is a former NFL defensive lineman. He is the father of Leslie Tuiasosopo, Marques Tuiasosopo, Zach Tuiasosopo, Matt Tuiasosopo and Ashley Tuiasosopo. He attended St. Anthony High School and UCLA....
, who played collegiately for UCLA, then professionally from 1979-86 for the Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
and 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. Marques' brother is fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Zach Tuiasosopo, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
until he was waived on July 11, 2007. Zach and Marques were also teammates on the Raiders for part of a season. His youngest brother, Matt
Matt Tuiasosopo
Matthew P. Tuiasosopo is a Major League Baseball utility player who is a free agent. He is the brother of Marques and Zach, and the son of Manu Tuiasosopo...
, plays baseball professionally for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. His sister Leslie played volleyball for Washington, trained with the US National Team, and is currently an assistant coach at the University of Washington. Marques is married; his wife is named Lisa. His uncle, Mike, is currently the defensive tackles coach at the University of Colorado.