Junior Siavii (1978-2022) American Football Player

Junior Siavii was an American Football Player (1978-2022)

He was born Saousoalii Poe Siavii Jr. and he was drafted in the 2004 NFL draft in round 2 out of the University of Oregon by the Kansas City Chiefs as a defensive tackle.

He played for 5 seasons for 3 different teams, starting with the Kansas City Chiefs (2004-2005), then the Dallas Cowboys (2008-2009) and finally the Seattle Seahawks (2010). In his 5 year career he played in 56 games. He was released by the Seahawks on September 4, 2011.

On August 26, 2019, he was arrested for charges related to illegal firearms but on November 15, 2019, he was indicted on additional conspiracy and drug-trafficking that superseded the previous charges. He was once again arrested on July 31, 2020, on charges of 2nd degree burglary and a misdemeanor stealing charge.

He was found dead in his prison cell at Leavenworth Prison, where he was serving time for an indictment on a firearms charge.

Full Bio

Early years

Siavii attended Tafuna High School. He played for one year at Dixie State Junior College, before leaving for Butte Community College. He played 2 seasons, receiving All-NorCal Conference honors in 2000.^{[citation needed]} In 2001, he was declared ineligible and was forced to spend the year earning his degree, before transferring to the University of Oregon.^{[citation needed]}

As a junior, he was mainly a reserve defensive tackle with only 2 starts, posting 15 tackles (2.5 for loss) and a half sack.^{[citation needed]} As a senior, he was named a starter in a defensive line that included Igor Olshansky, registering 43 tackles and 2 sacks.^{[citation needed] Junior Siavii (1978-2022) American Football Player}

He finished his 2-year career with 58 tackles (8.5 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections, and one fumble recovery.

Junior Siavii Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

Siavii was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round (36th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft. He was expected to be a run stopper on the defensive line but struggled as a rookie. He collected 12 tackles (4 for loss), one sack and 3 quarterback pressures.^{[citation needed]}

In 2005, his playing time was limited by a knee injury he suffered in training camp. He played in 14 games, recording 15 tackles and 3 quarterback pressures.^{[citation needed] Junior Siavii (1978-2022) American Football Player}

In 2006, repeated knee injuries kept Siavii on the physically unable to perform list before he was waived on September 2, 2006. He eventually needed microfracture surgery on his right knee.

Dallas Cowboys

After being out of football for 2 years, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys on January 23, 2008. He was released on August 31.^{[citation needed]}

On January 12, 2009, he was re-signed. He played in 16 games in a 3-4 defense, as the backup to nose tackle Jay Ratliff, registering 11 tackles.

On April 8, 2010, he was re-signed by the team. He was cut on September 4, 2010, after he was passed on the depth chart by rookie Josh Brent and Sean Lissemore.

Seattle Seahawks

On September 5, 2010, he was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks, to play in a 4-3 defense as a run-stopping specialist. He played in 14 games (6 starts), while setting a career-high in tackles (30), before being placed on the injured reserve list with a bruised spinal cord injury on December 23. He was released on September 4, 2011.^{[citation needed]}

Junior Siavii Legal trouble and death

On August 26, 2019, he was arrested for charges related to illegal firearms in Kansas City, Missouri. On November 15, 2019, he was indicted by the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri on additional conspiracy and drug-trafficking charges; this supersedes his original indictment. On July 31, 2020, he was arrested on charges of 2nd degree burglary and a misdemeanor stealing charge.

While awaiting trial at United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, on January 13, 2022, Siavii was found unresponsive in his cell. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at the age of 43.

Find a Grave Junior Siavii Buried