High School Football Player From NFL Family Killed by Alleged Drunk Driver

A Washington high school football player, Deejay Tuiasosopo, 16, was killed by an alleged drunk driver on October 23, hours after playing in a game for Federal Way High School.

Federal Way Police confirmed that Tuiasosopo was standing on a sidewalk when a car, reportedly involved in a collision at a nearby intersection, veered onto the sidewalk and struck him. The incident occurred around 10:48 p.m. local time. Tuiasosopo was pronounced dead at the scene. A 29-year-old man was arrested on a vehicular homicide charge, with authorities alleging he was under the influence at the time of the crash.

The Major Accident Investigation Team is continuing its investigation into the collision.

Tuiasosopo, a junior, was in his first season with the Federal Way High School football team. He was a running back and linebacker, weighing 220 pounds, and was set to graduate in 2028. Teammates described him as serious about his sport with aspirations of becoming a state champion.

"He was serious about his sports; he had dreams, he wanted to be a state champion," teammate David Rodriguez told KOMO News. "And the fact he can't do that, that's just, it just feels sad."

Tuiasosopo hailed from a family with a deep connection to professional football. His grandfather's brother, Manu Tuiasosopo, was a first-round NFL draft pick in 1979 and played for the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, winning Super Bowl XIX. Manu's son, Marques Tuiasosopo, was a college football standout, earning Rose Bowl MVP honors in 2001, and later played eight seasons in the NFL as a quarterback for the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets.

Other family members also pursued athletic careers. Manu's sons Zach Tuiasosopo played for the Huskies and had NFL tryouts, while Matt Tuiasosopo played professional baseball, including with the Seattle Mariners. Their sister, Leslie, is the head coach of the University of Washington’s women’s volleyball team.

Tuiasosopo's aunt, Kathlyne Tuiasosopo Utu, established a GoFundMe page to support his mother and three younger siblings. "In a matter of moments, our world was shattered," she wrote. "Two cars involved in a collision spilled onto the sidewalk where Deejay was standing to cross the street while heading to a fellow brother's home after the game. Tragically, due to the reckless driving, Deejay never made it across the street."

A memorial with flowers, candles, and signs was created near the site of the crash, where teammates, friends, and family gathered to honor Tuiasosopo's memory.