Junior Seau retires following Hall of Fame career

Monday, Aug 14, 2006

Junior Seau announced his retirement from the National Football League today following a brilliant 16-year playing career that produced Hall of Fame numbers and a lifetime of memories for San Diego and football fans around the world. 

Undoubtedly a lock to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible in 2011, the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame committee decided to forego the traditional waiting period and has selected Junior to be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame this year. The induction ceremony will take place at halftime of the Chargers-Browns game on Sunday, Nov. 5. 

Junior was the team leader and the heart and soul of the Chargers’ defense from 1990-2002. His stellar playing career was highlighted by 12 consecutive Pro Bowl berths, the most by any player in Chargers history and tied for the third-longest streak ever. 

Seau’s career statistics are beyond question. He appeared in 230 regular season games, including a team-record 200 as a Charger – a record he currently shares with Chargers Hall of Famer tackle Russ Washington. This total ranks sixth in NFL history among players whose primary position was linebacker. During his 13 seasons in San Diego, he racked up 1,396 tackles, 45.5 sacks and 14 interceptions. He was the team leader in tackles in eight of his 13 seasons, averaging 116 tackles a year. Junior led the Bolts in tackles in 84 of the 200 games he played for the Chargers and has recorded 10 or more tackles 47 times.

Among his many honors, Seau was named the Chargers’ Most Valuable Player a team-record six times (1993, 1997-2001) and the Defensive Player of the Year twice (1998-99). He also was voted the Chargers’ Most Inspirational Player in 1997 and 2002. In 2000 he was named to the Chargers 40th Anniversary All-Time Team, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-Decade Team for the ’90s and selected as the NFL Alumni Association’s Linebacker of the Year.

Perhaps the most memorable year of Junior’s career came in 1994 when he led the Chargers to Super Bowl XXIX against the San Francisco 49ers and was selected as the True Value NFL Man of the Year for his leadership and contributions off the field. 

He has been a first-team All-Pro pick by the Associated Press six times during his career (1992-94, 1996, 1998, 2000) and was a second-team selection on two occasions (1995, 1999). He also received the Miami Dolphins’ Don Shula Leadership Award following the 2003-04 seasons.

His greatness as a player on the field is equaled only by his leadership and generosity in the community. He is a loving father, an astute businessman and a community leader. Seau established the Junior Seau Foundation in 1992 to raise money and resources for programs that inspire young people to face life’s challenges with enthusiasm, hope and dignity. The Foundation’s mission is “to educate and empower young people through the support of child abuse prevention, drug and alcohol awareness, recreational opportunities, anti-juvenile delinquency efforts and complimentary educational programs.” He oversees all the efforts of the Foundation and through his work has awarded 260 scholarships to college-bound students throughout the San Diego region. The giving doesn’t stop there. Every December, he leads the holiday charge, taking more than 200 underprivileged kids on a shopping spree to buy gifts for friends and family through the “Shop with a Jock” program. The foundation’s largest fund-raiser also happens to be one of the premier events in Southern California, the Junior Seau Celebrity Golf Classic. The annual event, which also features the Team Seau Dinner and Legends Party, takes place at the La Costa Resort and Spa and is attended by many active and retired players from the NFL. In a three-year period (January 2003 – June 2006) $1,453,353 was allocated to organizations and programs serving children (includes annual funding of an endowment).

As a testament to the contributions he has made to enrich young lives in San Diego and around the country, Seau and his foundation were presented at the White House by President George W. Bush with the “Volunteer Service Award,” as part of the Asian Pacific Heritage Month celebration in May of 2005. Other honors bestowed upon Junior for his charitable efforts include True Value Hardware NFL Man of the Year (1994); National Boys and Girls Clubs Hall of Fame (1999); San Diego Hall of Champions Professional Star of the Year (1992); NFL United Way representative (San Diego Chargers: 1992 and 1999); A Magazine: One of 100 most influential Asian Americans (1990s); JB Award which recognizes NFL players for dedication to build better families and stronger communities (2005); Sporting News Miami Dolphins Good Guy (2004), and spokesman for the National Beer Wholesaler’s Association appearing on national PSA’s to curb underage drinking and stop illegal alcohol consumption among youth. He received the 2003 Spirit of San Diego Award from the San Diego Chamber of Commerce for community commitment and leadership.

In July of 1996, Junior opened SEAU’s the Restaurant, which consistently has been voted San Diego’s most popular sports-themed restaurant. Each year on Thanksgiving Day, SEAU’s the Restaurant opens its doors to feed 600 residents of homeless shelters, victims of domestic violence, military families, and families from local Boys & Girls Clubs. SEAU’S celebrated its 10th anniversary last month.

The fifth of six children, Junior was born Tiaina Seau Jr. on January 19, 1969 in San Diego. At an early age his family moved to American Samoa, but they returned to the mainland prior to him entering grade school. He did not speak English until age seven. Seau played linebacker and tight end as senior for the Oceanside High Pirates. He was named CIF San Diego Section Defensive Player of the Year, all-state and USA Today All-USA honorable mention, as well as All-North County and Avocado League Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, he was consensus San Diego Section Basketball Player of the Year. He was named to California’s all-academic team with a 3.6 grade-point average.

Seau will be joining 33 members in the Chargers Hall of Fame, including (in order of induction): wide receiver Lance Alworth, tackle Ron Mix, running back Paul Lowe, running back Keith Lincoln, majority owner Barron Hilton, defensive tackle Ernie Ladd, guard Walt Sweeney, quarterback John Hadl, linebacker Chuck Allen, wide receiver Gary Garrison, head coach Sid Gillman, defensive end Earl Faison, quarterback Dan Fouts, wide receiver Charlie Joiner, head coach Don Coryell, cornerback Leslie “Speedy” Duncan, tight end Kellen Winslow, tackle Russ Washington, minority owner George Pernicano, kicker Rolf Benirschke, cornerback Gil Byrd, defensive tackle Gary “Big Hands” Johnson, guard Doug Wilkerson, wide receiver Wes Chandler, quarterback Stan Humphries, head coach Bobby Ross, defensive tackle Louie Kelcher, guard Ed White and center Donnie Macek. Four players were inducted posthumously when the Hall of founded in 1976: linebacker Frank Buncom, linebacker Emil Karas, linebacker Bob Laraba, and tight end Jacque MacKinnon.

Chargers President and CEO Dean Spanos is the chairman of the Hall of Fame selection committee. Joining Spanos on the committee are A.G. Spanos, Director of Marketing Programs & Business Development for the Chargers; Bob Breitbard, Founder of the San Diego Hall of Champions; Doug Barnhart, Chairman of the San Diego International Sports Council; Jayne Beckett, President of the San Diego Chargers Backers; and Bill Johnston, Director of Public Relations for the team.

Junior Seau’s Career Highlights

·         Selected by the San Diego Chargers with the fifth overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft. He played in the NFL longer than any other first-round choice that year.

·         Voted to a Chargers team-record 12 consecutive Pro Bowls (1991-2002 seasons), as he became just the fourth NFL player since 1970 to be selected 10 or more straight times to the Pro Bowl, joining Randall McDaniel (12), Mike Singletary (10) and Lawrence Taylor (10) for that honor.

·         Named the NFL Alumni Association’s Linebacker of the Year in 2000.

·         In 2000, named to the Chargers’ 40th Anniversary Team.

·         Named to the All-Decade Team of the 1990s by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

·         Selected the Chargers’ Most Valuable Player five straight seasons (1997-2001), while he shared the award with Leslie O’Neal in 1993.

·         Voted the Chargers' Defensive Player of the Year twice (1998-99).

·         Voted by his teammates as the Chargers Most Inspirational Player in 1997.

·         Voted first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press six times during his career (1992-94, 1996, 1998, 2000) and was a second-team selection on two occasions (1995, 1999).

·         First-team All-Pro selection by College & Pro Football Newsweekly twice (1992, 1994) and a second-team pick three times (1993, 1995, 1999).

·         First-team All-Pro pick by Pro Football Weekly on four occasions (1992,1994-95, 1998).

·         First-team All-Pro by the Pro Football Writers of America four times (1992-95).

·         First-team All-Pro selection by USA Today in 1996.

·         Recorded 10 or more tackles in a game 59 times.

·         Led team in tackles in 89 of his 230 career regular season games.

·         Led the Chargers in tackles in eight of his 13 NFL seasons.

·         Averaged more than 115 tackles a season and more than seven tackles a game over his career.

·         Is tied for first on San Diego's all-time list for games played with 200.

·         Registered 47 sacks during his tenure with San Diego, third on the Chargers’ all-time list.

·         For his philanthropic efforts, was named the NFL Man of the Year in 1994.