37 Facts About Mike Iupati

Michael Iupati is a Samoan-American former professional football player who was a guard for 11 seasons in the National Football League.

Mike Iupati was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft.

Mike Iupati played five seasons with the 49ers, four with the Arizona Cardinals, and two with the Seattle Seahawks.

Mike Iupati is the son of Aposetolo, a former mechanic at Los Angeles International Airport, and Belinda Iupati.

Mike Iupati attended Western High School in Anaheim, where he began playing football under the guidance of Odell Harrington, the school's half-Samoan football coach.

Not having a high enough SAT score or sufficient grades, Mike Iupati was planning to attend junior college until Johnny Nansen saw him in 2005, at a junior college's barbecue hosted for potential recruits.

Nansen, then an assistant at Idaho under head coach Nick Holt, offered him a spot with the Vandals the next day and spent considerable time trying to convince Mike Iupati and his family that the Western Athletic Conference university on the Palouse was a better choice than junior college.

Mike Iupati attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, and played for the Vandals from 2006 through 2009.

Mike Iupati's family took out a loan to pay non-resident tuition and room and board for his first year.

Mike Iupati joined the Vandals football team in 2006, seeing action in a backup role as a redshirt freshman under head coach Dennis Erickson.

Mike Iupati had off-season shoulder surgery, and did not return to the lineup until the third game of the 2008 season.

Mike Iupati went on to start in 8 of the 10 games in which he played.

Mike Iupati earned second-team All-WAC recognition in his junior year.

Mike Iupati started all twelve games in 2009 at left guard, played 807 snaps with 49 knockdowns and 21 pancake blocks.

Mike Iupati did not allow a quarterback sack and just five defensive players he has blocked have even pressured quarterbacks Nathan Enderle or Brian Reader.

Mike Iupati was the first Idaho Vandal to receive All-American honors since John Yarno in 1976 and the first All-American from the WAC since Ryan Clady in 2007.

Mike Iupati was considered one of the best offensive guard prospects available in the 2010 NFL draft.

Mike Iupati was the highest selected Idaho Vandal since Ray McDonald went 13th overall to the Washington Redskins in the 1967 NFL draft.

On July 30,2010, Mike Iupati signed a five-year contract with the 49ers reportedly worth $18.25 million, with $10.8 million guaranteed.

Mike Iupati started with the 49ers' first-string offense at left guard when David Baas was injured in training camp.

Mike Iupati had a strong start to the 2010 season, not committing a penalty, or allowing a sack until Week 5.

Mike Iupati made valuable contributions to the 49ers' running game, delivering downfield blocks.

ESPN's Mike Sandos selected Iupati to his 2010 All-NFC West Team, while the Pro Football Writers Association named him one of their 2010 NFL All-Rookie selections.

In 2012, Mike Iupati had an outstanding season and made the 2012 All-Pro first-team.

Mike Iupati was one of the six 49ers selected as Pro Bowl starters.

On March 10,2015, Mike Iupati signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

Mike Iupati returned the week after against the 49ers, and went on to start every game for the remainder of the season.

Mike Iupati was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl and Second-team All-Pro.

Mike Iupati entered the 2017 season as the Cardinals starting left guard.

Mike Iupati suffered a triceps injury in Week 1 and missed the next two games before being placed on injured reserve.

In 2018, Mike Iupati started ten games at left guard, missing two with a back injury, before suffering a knee injury in Week 13.

On March 14,2019, Mike Iupati signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

Mike Iupati was named a Pro Bowl alternate for the 2019 season.

Mike Iupati started 11 games at left guard, missing six due to injury.

On February 22,2021, Mike Iupati announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons.

Mike Iupati bought his parents a home in Corona, after making it to the NFL.

Andrew Mike Iupati went undrafted in 2012, but attended San Francisco's three-day rookie minicamp in May 2012.