Players

It’s rare that an NFL team can boast about possessing the best blocking tight end in the game and the best receiving tight end. The Chargers can make such a boast.  Brandon Manumaleuna (MAH-noo-mah-lee-oo-nah) and Antonio Gates give the Chargers a great one-two punch at tight end. While the two differ in size and speed, both make a huge impact in San Diego’s high-powered offense. And it doesn’t hurt that Manumaleuna is an extremely versatile player who has lined up at tight end, fullback, H-back and wide receiver, in addition to playing special teams during his career.  The 6-2, 288-pound Manumaleuna is as agile and shifty as he his big. And while he doesn’t catch as many passes as Gates, Manumaleuna is as sure-handed as any of the Chargers’ pass catchers. For the sixth-year in a row, Manumaleuna recorded double-digit reception totals and in each of his three years with the Chargers, San Diego’s offense has rushed for more than 1,700 yards, including a pair of 2,000-yard seasons.

Manumaleuna joined the Chargers in 2006 after General Manager A.J. Smith pulled off one of the biggest steals of the draft, shipping a fourth-round pick to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for his services. Manumaleuna immediately became a key cog in the Chargers’ offense, scoring touchdowns on three of his 14 catches, and helping to block for a running game that netted a team-record 2,578 yards and an NFL MVP award for LaDainian Tomlinson.   Brandon’s off-the-field hobbies include playing basketball and spending time with family. Brandon is a second-generation NFL player. His father, Frank, played linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1979-1981. Frank also played at UCLA in the early 1970s. Brandon showed early signs of following in his father’s footsteps. As a 12-year-old, he won the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick Competition before a 1992 Los Angeles Raiders game at the Coliseum. 

TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fourth-round pick (128) by St. Louis, April 22, 2001…signed with Rams June 21, 2001…re-signed five-year contract, March 16, 2004…traded to Chargers April 30, 2006 for fourth-round pick (113) in 2006 NFL Draft... signed one-year contract extension thru 2009, June 22, 2007.

2009: Caught 7-yard catch in week two vs. Baltimore.

2008: Chargers Alumni co-Offensive POM for December…11-yard TD catch in 1Q of Wk 15 game at TB and 12-yard TD catch in 2Q of AFC West clinching win over Denver Dec. 28.

2007: season-long 40-yard catch Dec. 2 at KC was also longest since ’04 nine-yard catch on 3rd-and-6 in 4Q of Jan. 6 AFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Tennessee sustained TD drive for 17-6 lead.

2006: Caught one-yard TD pass from LT in 4Q to tie game, 27-27, Wk 6 at KC…career-high two TDs in 49-41 win at Cincinnati Nov. 12…3Q TD put Chargers within 31-28 and 4Q TD put Chargers ahead, 49-41, after having trailed 21-0 and 28-7…  highlight-reel catch vs. Denver Dec. 10,  breaking several tackles and losing helmet during 19-yard pickup on 3rd-and-7 late in 2Q.

2005: Six-yard TD catch in season opener at SF…INA Wks 4-5 (knee)…season-long 33-yard catch at Seattle Nov. 13.

2004: Scored TD in 33-27 OT win at Seattle Oct. 10, his eight-yard TD catch sparking 17-point 4Q comeback…season-long 48-yard catch vs. NE Nov. 7.

2003: Season-long 39-yard catch vs. Atlanta Oct. 13…four-yard TD catch at Chicago Nov. 16 and eight-yard TD catch at Detroit Dec. 28.

2002: Six-yard TD catch in season finale against 49ers.

2001: Only catch of season went for one-yard TD vs. TB Nov. 26.  COLLEGE: Second-team All-Pac-10 as junior…finished career with 40 catches for 544 yards and three TDs…began career at Arizona on DL and made switch to TE and H-back…played for Wildcats from 1997-00...political science major.  PERSONAL: Born in Torrance, California…second-team all-state defensive lineman at Narbonne High School in Torrance…lettered in basketball and track.