D. J. Tialavea Explained

D.J. Tialavea
Position:Tight ends coach
Current Team:Utah State Aggies
Birth Date:27 July 1991
Birth Place:West Jordan, Utah
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lbs:260
High School:West Jordan (UT)
College:Utah State
Undraftedyear:2014
Pastteams:
Pastcoaching:
  • Utah State (2020)
    Graduate assistant
  • Utah State (2021–present)
    Tight ends coach
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:2
Statlabel2:Receptions
Statvalue2:1
Statlabel3:Receiving yards
Statvalue3:1
Statlabel4:Receiving touchdowns
Statvalue4:1
Pfr:TialD.00

Donald Tialavea Jr.[1] (born July 27, 1991) is a former American football tight end who is currently a tight ends coach for Utah State. He played college football at Utah State University. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014 as an undrafted free agent. Tialavea was formerly a tight end prior to switching positions before the 2017 NFL season.

Early years

Tialavea attended West Jordan High School in West Jordan, Utah. During his high school football career, he also played on the offensive and defensive lines. In addition to being a three-year letterwinner in football, Tialavea was also a three-year letterwinner in basketball and baseball.[2]

College career

Tialavea appeared in 40 games for the Utah State Aggies. He ended his college career with 198 receiving yards and five touchdowns.[2]

Professional career

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tialavea was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft.[3] He was released on May 12, 2014.[4]

Buffalo Bills

After being released by the Jaguars, Tialavea was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad on September 2, 2014. He was released by the Bills on September 30, 2014.[5]

Atlanta Falcons

Tialavea was signed to the Falcons' practice squad on November 24, 2015.[6] After spending almost two seasons on the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster on December 22, 2016.[7] In his NFL debut two days later against the Carolina Panthers, Tialavea caught a touchdown for his only reception of the day.[8]

Tialavea was inactive for the Falcons' 34-28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.[9] [10]

On September 1, 2017, Tialavea was released by the Falcons.[11]

Chicago Bears

On September 20, 2017, Tialavea was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad.[12] He was released on September 26, 2017.[13] He was re-signed on December 27, 2017.[14]

Coaching career

Utah State

In 2020, Tialavea joined the coaching staff at his alma mater, Utah State, as a graduate assistant working with the tight ends. Head Coach Gary Andersen was fired mid-season that year. The following January, Tialavea was promoted to tight ends coach by newly hired head coach Blake Anderson.

Personal life

D.J.'s parents are Don and Tami Tialavea. He has two sisters. Tialavea graduated from Utah State with a degree in sports management in 2013, and then a master's degree in education in 2019, also from Utah State.[15] D.J. is also an Eagle Scout.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Us. thedontialaveafoundation.com. December 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161225145000/https://thedontialaveafoundation.com/about-us/. December 25, 2016. dead.
  2. Web site: Utah State Bio. utahstateaggies.com. December 25, 2016. December 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161225150034/http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/dj_tialavea_449906.html. dead.
  3. Web site: TE D.J. Tialavea to Practice Squad. buffalobills.com. December 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161225145243/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/TE-DJ-Tialavea-to-Practice-Squad/725a4d7d-4002-411e-96cb-7de2a13b66c3. December 25, 2016. dead.
  4. Web site: Jaguars release 6, including G Will Rackley. sandiegouniontribune.com. May 12, 2014 . December 25, 2016.
  5. Web site: TE Jamie Childers signed to Bills Practice Squad. buffalobills.com. December 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161226054618/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/TE-Jamie-Childers-signed-to-Bills-Practice-Squad/1de6032d-3f91-4db4-bac6-cc4b5cd21f1e. December 26, 2016. dead.
  6. Web site: Tialavea Signed to Practice Squad, Jensen Waived. atlantafalcons.com. December 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161225145344/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Tialavea-Signed-to-Practice-Squad-Jensen-Waived/a3415a3a-6681-4bd1-946b-b7b90d1524eb. December 25, 2016. dead.
  7. Web site: Jackson. Curtis. Falcons Waive Therezie, Goodman; Promote Keyes, Tialavea. https://web.archive.org/web/20170807021522/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/blog/article-1/Falcons-Waive-Therezie-Goodman-Promote-Keyes-Tialavea/4550ecf5-0b24-4204-bcf6-f2d7ac9e448c. dead. August 7, 2017. atlantafalcons.com. December 25, 2016.
  8. Web site: Tialavea emerges as unlikely hero for Falcons - Philadelphia Herald. www.philadelphiaherald.com. December 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161225150458/http://www.philadelphiaherald.com/index.php/sid/250445173. December 25, 2016. dead.
  9. Web site: Falcons vs. Patriots: Final inactives for Super Bowl LI. Weaver. Tim. February 5, 2017. USA Today. August 6, 2017.
  10. Web site: Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017. Pro-Football-Reference.com. August 6, 2017.
  11. Web site: 2017 Atlanta Falcons Roster Cuts Tracker: Deadline To 53 Is 4 P.M. ET On Saturday. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230165513/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/blog/article-1/2017-Atlanta-Falcons-roster-cuts-tracker-Deadline-to-53-is-4-pm-ET-on-Saturday/98e7c2c6-e5e5-414f-bf3a-69e3863e701a. dead. December 30, 2017. Conway, Kelsey. AtlantaFalcons.com. September 1, 2017.
  12. Web site: Report: D.J. Tialavea signed to Bears practice squad. 247sports.com. September 20, 2017.
  13. Web site: Bears add two to practice squad, bringing back Tre McBride. Gantt, Darin. ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. September 26, 2017.
  14. Web site: D.J. Tialavea signed to Bears practice squad. 247Sports.com. December 27, 2017.
  15. Web site: DJ Tialavea Named Tight Ends Coach at Utah State . utahstateaggies.com . Utah State University SID . January 4, 2020.
  16. Web site: Atlanta Falcons tight end D.J. Tialavea is an Eagle Scout. On January 3, 2018, Tialavea married former Gonzaga and BYU-Hawaii volleyball player Kalistina Takau.. Wendell. Bryan. January 27, 2017. Bryan on Scouting. February 5, 2017.

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