The Polynesian Soccer Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Wednesday, which includes Rey Maualuga (Samoan descent), Chad Owens (Hawaiian descent), Brandon Manumaleuna (Samoan descent).
“On behalf of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, it is our privilege to welcome and celebrate the Class of 2026,” Polynesian Hall of Fame Chairman, Co-Founder and Inductee Jesse Sapolu said in a statement. “Their achievements on and off the field have inspired generations. We look forward to honoring them in Hawaii in January.”
The class of 2026 will be established 16.-18. January, during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.
Manumaleuna, Maualuga and Owens were chosen from a field of more than 100 nominees and eight finalists by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame selection committee, which consists of Jack “The Throwin’ Samoan” Thompson (chairman, former NFL player and inductee), coaches Ron McBride and former NFL player Dick Vermeil. inductee and former president of the NFL Players Association Kevin Mawae, former NFL player and Class of 2015 inductee Ray Schoenke, sportscaster Neil Everett, Chief NFL Network National Reporter Steve Wyche, and former NFL player and Class of 2023 Inductee Manti Te`o. In addition to the selection committee, all living members of the Polynesian Hall of Fame voted to select the class.
Maualuga was the 2008 Chuck Bednarik Award winner at USC, where he was also an All-American and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in ’08.
Drafted 38th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, the second-round linebacker played eight seasons for the Bengals from 2009-2016 before finishing his career in 2017 with the Miami Dolphins. He made 607 tackles in 120 NFL games.
Manumaleuna was an All-American tight end in 2011-2012 for Arizona.
He was drafted in the fourth round in 2001 by the St. Louis Rams. Manumaleuna played five seasons with the Rams from 2001-2005, four years with the San Diego Chargers (2006-2009) and his final season with the Chicago Bears in 2010. In his career, he played in 158 games with 103 starts, 115 receptions for 1,008 touchdowns and 13 yards.
Owens was a second-team All-American in 2004 playing for Hawaii and is the program’s all-time leader with 5,451 all-time yards.
A sixth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005, Owens saw action in two seasons with the club. However, he made his mark in the CFL, where he is a member of the league’s Hall of Fame, was a four-time all-star, a two-time Gray Cup champion and was the 2012 CFL Player of the Year.