38 Facts About Shalom Luani

Shalom Luani was born on August 5,1994 and is an American football safety who is a free agent.

Shalom Luani has represented American Samoa in soccer, having scored against Tonga in American Samoa's first-ever win in FIFA-sanctioned play.

Shalom Luani played college football at Washington State, and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft.

Shalom Luani has been a member of the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers, and Houston Texans of the NFL, and the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League.

From 2009 to 2011, Shalom Luani played for ASFA Soccer League club Tafuna Jets, along with his brother Sumeo.

In February 2011, Shalom Luani played for the Faga'itua Vikings in the inaugural ASHSAA Boys' Futsal tournament, held at Samoana High School.

Luani's brother Roy was playing for the Vikings and Shalom assisted his sibling for the game's opening goal before scoring a free kick himself.

The American Samoa Football Federation suggested that the brothers were the difference between the two teams, saying: "Shalom Luani was everywhere, whether it be defending or assisting on goals while his older sibling's tenacity, nose for the ball and no fear play were huge keys in winning the first ever Futsal championship in ASHSAA history".

On May 7,2012, Shalom Luani played for the Faga'itua Vikings in the final of the ASHAA Boys' Soccer Championship, against Samoana Sharks at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Pago Pago.

In March 2012, Shalom Luani was selected as part of American Samoa's under-23 Olympic squad, along with his brother Roy.

Two days later, Shalom Luani opened the scoring for American Samoa in another Olympic qualifier against the Solomon Islands on March 20,2012.

Shalom Luani continued this form into the next match, against the Cook Islands on November 25,2011.

Shalom Luani gave American Samoa the lead in the first half after dispossessing Cook Islands defender Nathan Tisam and beating goalkeeper Tony Jamieson.

Shalom Luani began his American football career as a defensive back for the Faga'itua Vikings, representing Faga'itua High School and wearing the number 21 jersey for the team.

At the age of 15, in September 2009, Shalom Luani was named the Junior Varsity division's MVP, being selected by the coaches of other teams.

Shalom Luani earned the accolade for his "perfectly executed trick plays" that helped the Vikings to an undefeated season.

In June 2010, Shalom Luani represented Faga'itua in an under-18s Rugby Sevens tournament held at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Pago Pago.

Faga'itua's head coach, Tuiaua Pio Grohse, suggested that Luani had been the difference between the two sides in the final, saying "They had a very good team, and we had a hard time scoring against them until a minute and a half left in the game, when Shalom Luani crossed the try line and added a score for our team".

On December 31,2011, Shalom Luani represented American Samoa in a Samoa Bowl match against Hawaii.

In February 2012, Shalom Luani was included in an American Samoa All Star Team for an under-19 Junior Oceania Bowl championship match against Australia.

Shalom Luani played a prominent role in the victory, assisting five of his team's eight scores and scoring a 23-yard field goal.

At the time of his signing by WSU, intended to improve their struggling defense, Shalom Luani had already been recognised by national media.

In October 2015, Shalom Luani was named Pac-12 defensive player of the week, the first such accolade for a Cougar player since 2013; having made an "immediate impact" according to the Seattle Times, the American Samoan had started every game of the season.

Shalom Luani was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round, 221st overall, in the 2017 NFL draft, making him the first American Samoa-born player to be drafted by the organization.

On September 1,2018, Shalom Luani was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2019 seventh-round draft pick.

Shalom Luani was waived on September 12,2018, and was re-signed to the practice squad.

Shalom Luani was promoted back to the active roster on September 15,2018.

On October 9,2019, Shalom Luani was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad.

Shalom Luani was promoted to the active roster on November 2,2019.

On December 4,2019, Shalom Luani was signed to the Houston Texans practice squad.

Shalom Luani was drafted by the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League in the 18th round of the 2022 USFL draft.

On January 5,2024, Shalom Luani was selected by the Michigan Panthers during the 2024 UFL dispersal draft.

Shalom Luani is the son of Penitito and Niukini Shalom Luani and, like his parents, hails from the village of Masausi.

Shalom Luani graduated from Masefau Elementary before attending Fagaitua High School.

In June 2012, Shalom Luani was one of 32 of the island's students who were honoured in the Student-Athlete Ceremony of Recognition where student athletes officially signed on with the colleges of their choice; Shalom Luani joined Chabot College in Hayward, California.

Shalom Luani's brother Roy, who is a year older, is an association footballer and plays as a forward.

Shalom Luani has family in North Carolina, but had hardly met them before moving to the United States in 2012.

Prosecutors declined to press charges, saying there was not enough evidence to show Shalom Luani wasn't defending himself.