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American football player (born 1991) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
D. J. Tialavea in 2017 | |||||||||||
| Utah State Aggies | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Tight ends coach | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | July 27, 1991 West Jordan, Utah | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 260 lb (118 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | West Jordan (UT) | ||||||||||
| College: | Utah State | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2014 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| As a player: | |||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
| As a coach: | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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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]
Tialavea appeared in 40 games for the Utah State Aggies. He ended his college career with 198 receiving yards and five touchdowns.[2]
Tialavea was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft.[3] He was released on May 12, 2014.[4]
After being released by the Jaguars, Tialavea was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad on September 2, 2014.[3] He was released by the Bills on September 30, 2014.[5]
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]
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]
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.[15]
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]
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