Jesse Sapolu

Manase Jesse Sapolu is a former football player in the National Football League. Sapolu played both center and offensive guard, and spent his entire 15 year career in a San Francisco 49ers uniform. Born Samoa - raised in Hawaii, Manase "Jesse" Sapolu, one of the most celebrated Samoan NFL football players, was the rock for the San Francisco 49ers' offensive line during the 49ers' 80s/90s dynasty.

The late Bobb McKittrick, whom Bill Walsh called the best Offensive Line Coach of his time, said of Sapolu, "The best technician and most fundamentally sound lineman I have ever coached. Sapolu would have been selected to 9 or 10 Pro Bowls if we did not move him around on the line." Sapolu, a firm believer in sacrificing individual honors to create Championships, says "I will do it again in a heartbeat because the 4 Super Bowls that I have, proves that we were the best team in the world and no one can take that away from me. If individual awards were important to me, I would have signed up for tennis in my youth."

Jesse Sapolu attended Farrington High School and the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. As a high school student at Farrington High School Jesse Sapolu was selected to the All-State team as an Offensive Lineman. He continued as a standout player on the offensive line at The University of Hawaii from 1979 to 1982 where he lettered all four years. Sapolu made all WAC team 1980-1982 and was the only sophomore named to the all WAC 1 st team. In 1983 Sapolu played in the Hula Bowl.

Standing 6 feet 4 inches, 278 lbs., he was selected by the Oakland Invaders in the 17th round (199th pick overall) of the 1983 USFL draft, and selected by San Francisco 49ers in the 11th round (289th pick overall) of the 1983 NFL draft. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers on July 10, 1983.

Sapolu is one of six 49ers to own four Super Bowl Championship Rings (1984, 1988, 1989, and 1994), and the only one of those to earn a ring with the '94 team rather than their first title in 1981. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 1993 and 1994 and was selected to numerous All Pro teams.

Sapolu was the re cipient of The Bobb Mckittrick Award in 1991 & 1996, The Garry Niver Award in 1993, The Ed Block Courage Award in 1997 and two time member All Madden Team 1991 & 1994. Sapolu was also inducted to the State of Hawaii Hall of Fame, University of Hawaii Hall of Honor and Farrington High School Hall of Fame.

Since retiring in 1997, Sapolu and his wife Lisa lives in Orange County and has four grown children. His only daughter, Lila, is a graduate of Chaminade 2007. Son Luke is a graduate from Central Oklahoma 2010. Son London is a graduate from University of Hawaii 2012, and the youngest son Roman is currently attending Oregon State University.

Sapolu is busy with his duties as the 49ers alumni coordinator, motivational speaker and is very active in the community and various charities. Sapolu also holds a football camp every year for Offensive & Defensive Lineman March thru July.

His biography, I Gave My Heart to San Francisco is due out in stores in October 2012.